DETECTIVES investigating the death of 17-year-old Jay Whiston, who was knifed outside a house party, are urging more teenage witnesses to come forward.

Jay was fatally wounded on Saturday night at a gathering in Colchester attended by about 100 people.

The Tendring Technology College pupil, of Aster Close, Clacton, died a short time later in hospital.

Police, who have already arrested five people in connection with the incident and say more arrests cannot be ruled out, are renewing their appeals to young party-goers to help them gain information about the evening’s events.

Officers working on the murder investigation, who are still looking for the weapon used in the incident, have also appealed for anyone who may have picked up a knife in the area to hand it in. A number of bladed instruments have already been recovered but police do not believe any of them to be the murder weapon.

Last night senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Simon Parkes said: “Many of the teenagers have given accounts of what happened on that Saturday night. These boys and girls are clearly key witnesses, crucial to our investigation.” He added that social networking sites, which are believed to have spread details of the party, were also key to the investigation.

“We have found that Facebook and Twitter have played a significant part in events leading up to and after this murder.

“We have arrested five people and cannot rule out arresting others. We are very much dependant on those who attended the party and those who subsequently heard about what happened coming forward,” he said.

Five people from Colchester have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two 18-year-old men and three 17-year-old youths have all been released on police bail until Wednesday, October 17, pending further inquiries.

The EADT reported earlier this week how Jay’s college had united in grief.

Headteacher Caroline Haynes said: “I am devastated for his family. I feel so, so sad for them and it has been terrible to see students and staff crying and so affected by this awful event.

“We feel very raw in our grief and we’re all trying to support each other.”

She added: “Jay was a wonderful young man. He was cheerful, witty, funny and made people laugh. He was part of really good, solid group of friends who were very supportive of each other – the sort of students you want in your school.

“He was not a young man going out looking for trouble – he was the type who would try to prevent it. Today has been very sombre but people remember the things that he did that made them laugh.”

Anyone with information in connection with the death is urged to contact detectives at Colchester’s Major Investigation Team on 01245 452882, e-mail them on SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.