A devastated mother has spoken about the night she dropped her teenage son off at a friend’s house, only for him to be brutally stabbed to death minutes later.

19-year-old Andre Aderemi, from Chatham, was found with stab wounds on the Monks Hill estate in South Croydon last Tuesday, and died later in hospital.

His mother, Yemi Hughes, had left him at a friend’s house at 7.30pm but by 7.40pm paramedics were fighting to save his life.

In a statement released today, a week after his death, Mrs Hughes said: “I never thought this would be the last time that I saw him. I received a call to beg me to come as he was screaming for me but by the time I arrived the paramedics were fighting to save his life.

“I never got to see him alive again, to tell him how much I love him, to see his infectious smile, to cradle my baby in my arms and tell him that I would fix and make everything better.”

Detectives investigating the murder are planning to return to the scene at 5pm today to appeal for information and witnesses.

"I never got to see him alive again, to tell him how much I love him, to see his infectious smile" - Andre's mother, Yemi Hughes

Four teenagers have already been charged with his murder.

Ali Zahawy, 18, is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court today and Jamall Longergan, of Woodcroft Road, Thornton Heath; Fabio Cela, of Fryston Avenue, Croydon; and Rodney Mukasa, of Green View Avenue, Croydon, all 19, were charged on Friday.

They appeared in custody at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Saturday and were remanded to appear at Old Bailey later today.

It is believed Andre, who was an amateur rapper, had moved to Chatham recently and had returned to Croydon to visit friends when he was attacked.

Mrs Hughes added: “I am begging for witnesses to come forward and give their accounts so that myself and Andre’s little brothers can get some closure and justice for my son’s murder.

“Nobody should die the way that he did and I am devastated not only by the loss of Andre but also by the manner in which he died. Our lives will never be the same again so please if you know anything, no matter how small you think it is, can you pass it onto police.”

DCI Sam Price, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC), who is leading the investigation, said: “Did you witness the incident last Tuesday or see a white vehicle on the estate that night? Did you see any other vehicles that may have been involved?

“Whilst enquiries are ongoing, we believe a number of people possibly fled the scene in a vehicle following the attack. Were any other individuals involved whom police are not already aware of? I am keen to speak with anyone who saw what happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101, direct to the incident room on 0208 721 5054 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.