A COMMUNITY has been left reeling after police launched a murder investigation one month after a fatal stabbing left a young man dead.

The probe comes just weeks after Alinjavwa Siwale, 22, was stabbed to death in Affleck Road, less than half a mile away from the site of the latest incident.

One Greenstead resident, who asked not to be named, told the Gazette: “It is an ongoing thing down that end of Greenstead. It seems everything bad that happens is in that part of the estate.”

Friends described aspiring rapper Mr Siwale as a “funny and caring” father.

Pheonix Lee, 19, and Sheldon McKay, 25, both of no fixed address, are due to enter pleas to charges of murder on April 12.

Colchester councillor Tim Young, who has represented the Greenstead ward for 30 years, said: “I’m distraught. This is the second murder investigation in Greenstead within a few weeks and my heart just goes out to the victim and their family and friends.

“I urge everyone within the community to do all they can to stay vigilant.

“I know the police have been doing their job really well in their investigation, to attempt to apprehend the perpetrators but this does nothing for the reputation of Greenstead.

“Many of us try so hard to debunk some of the myths around it.

“Incidents like this, which I understand once again is isolated, and the incident a few weeks ago, are not what Greenstead should be known for.”

Mr Young defended the estate following last month’s murder investigation, insisting it remained a tight-knit community “full of good people”.

“I stand by what I said about the ward being a good community and a good place to live,” he said.

“There are many good people here, and the vast majority of people like living here.”

He added: “However, I cannot hide away from the fact that, for whatever reasons or motives, there is a second murder investigation here within a few weeks.

“If you’re not affected by that fact then you’re not human.

“But we have to stay calm and listen to what the police say were the motives behind this.

“But they do not need to worry about Greenstead being a dangerous place.

“I was on the estate on Monday morning delivering food parcels and it was as quiet as ever.

“I’m on the estate every day, I live within the ward and I will continue to do the best I can to reassure its residents.”

Following Mr Siwale’s death in December, friend Manda Thompson said: “It was almost like I had known him forever, he was someone who I clicked with straight away because he was the funny one, he did nothing but constantly made everyone laugh.

“His energy was infectious.

“He had the most compassionate relationship with his little boy, who was always stuck to him like glue when they were together."

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