Man murdered after making noise complaint

A father of two young children has been stabbed to death after he asked a gang of youths to stop making a noise outside his home.

Steven Nyembo-Ya-Muteba, a 40-year-old university graduate, told a group of about a dozen teenagers to move away from the stairwell of a block of flat because they were preventing him from sleeping.

The youths left the low-rise flats in Evergreen Square, Hackney, east London, shortly after 10pm on Sunday, but at least one returned and stabbed Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba.

The British citizen, who was studying maths, was taken to a nearby hospital but died from his wounds.

He leaves two daughters, aged five and six, and his wife, a student.

Four teenagers aged between 15 and 17 have been arrested by police in connection with the attack.

The murder comes at a time of renewed concern about a culture of violence among young men.

In August Peter Woodhams, 22, was shot dead after he confronted youths near his home in Canning Town, east London. Two teenagers have been charged with his murder.

In the most recent incident Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba, described as a committed Christian, who came from Congo in Africa, had complained about noise because he had to get up early the next morning.

Chief Superintendent Simon Pountain, commander for the Hackney area, said: "It is my understanding he was in his flat alone. They came into the communal area and were creating the disturbance.

"After Steven successfully ushered them out, that was when one or more came back into the foyer, the communal area, and attacked him.

"Just after 10pm police were called to reports of 10 to 12 youths attacking a man. Officers arrived to find the man with serious injuries believed to be stab wounds."

He added: "Steven did what any normal citizen would do in a situation like this if someone is causing a disturbance.

"I do not want any member of the public to put themselves in danger but it's absolutely right that you can challenge young people causing a disturbance - we do not want to live in a time where people suffer at other's hands."

He continued: "Clearly this is a tragic event which has left a wife and young family without a husband and father. We would like to assure you we are doing out utmost to ensure those responsible are brought to justice."

Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba is believed to have lived in the first floor flat of the housing association property with his family for about four years.

Stephen Morris, a neighbour of the dead man, said: "He was such a nice man, very, very placid. He would never pick a fight or do anything to hurt anybody. He always used to call me dad and I used to call him son."

He added that he had seen a group of youths at the flats shortly before the stabbing.

"There was a bunch of kids sitting on the stairwell, well when I say kids I mean about 18 years old, all smoking wacky baccy like they always do around here."

A church friend of the family was reported as seeing Mr Nyembo-Ya-Muteba's widow yesterday.

"She was just crying her eyes out. Crying and crying, she can't understand how or why this has happened," she said.

- INDEPENDENT