A CLACTON mother has made an emotional plea for help in catching her son’s killer at a news conference.

Jay Whiston was stabbed at a house party in Marlowe Way, Colchester, shortly after 10pm on Saturday, September 8.

The 17-year-old from Aster Close, Clacton, died a short time later in hospital.

A provisional post-mortem examination result showed that he died from a stab wound to the heart. He had also been stabbed in the abdomen and again on the waistband of his trousers, but this latter attempt failed to touch his body.

At the news conference held in Clacton, Jay’s 47-year-old mother, Caroline Shearer, said: “If we could catch the person or people responsible, then at least justice would be done.”

Senior investigating officer DCI Simon Parkes also called on those protecting the student’s killer to contact them in confidence.

DCI Parkes said: “We have had a tremendous response from our initial requests for information. I would like to thank those who have been interviewed by my team and given statements. Their help has been invaluable. However, we do know there are those who have yet to come forward. It is essential that we are able to reconstruct what happened that night; to recreate the movements frame by frame of Jay and his attacker or attackers.”

Detectives are also appealing for help to trace the murder weapon and a red and white polo shirt.

Five people from Colchester were arrested during the hours and days following the stabbing. The two 19-year-old men, one 18-year-old man and two 17-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of murder and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

In mid-November, four people were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Like the five original arrested people, they are currently on police bail until Friday, March 22.

Anyone with information about Jay’s murder should contact detectives at Colchester’s Major Investigation Team on 01206 576845, text them on 07841 112146, Blackberry Message (BBM) them on 264CC35E, e-mail scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.ukor call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.