Family and friends of Harleigh are raising money to pay help pay for a funeral and gravestone after the young footballer’s life was cut short
A fundraising page has been launched for an ‘amazing’ teen who was murdered after visiting a Black Country park.
Harleigh Hepworth, 17, was stabbed to death in West Park, Wolverhampton, on March 7 last year.
His friend Jaiden Johnson, 18, who has launched a gofundme page to help pay for funeral costs, told BlackCountryLive: “Harleigh was bright and brought joy everywhere he went.
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“Harleigh was an amazing kid. He liked football. He didn’t play from 16 and 17 but before that, he played for a team in Hednesford.
“He might have ended up going on the wrong path but it didn’t stop him from being who he was towards people and his family.”
After his death, West Midlands Police released a photograph of Harleigh holding a trophy whilst wearing a Hednesford Town football top.
He had won a cup in the Walsall Junior Youth Football League.
Writing on the gofundme page, Jaiden said of Harleigh: “He was a young man who had overcome many difficulties and hardships in his short but successful life.
“Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond his control, his life was cut short and he will be forever missed by his friends as he was on his journey to create a better future.
“Harleigh will be missed by his grandad and his sister as he was a great support to the both of them throughout his life.
“We are desperately trying to raise a decent amount of money in order for us to be able to get him a gravestone and a deserved final resting place.” To donate to the page, visit here.
Harleigh had travelled to Wolverhampton with a friend in March last year.
The pair were confronted by a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and 18-year-old Jovarn Esterine, after walking through West Park.
West Midlands Police said the assailants had met them with an “ulterior motive”.
Following a brief exchange, Harleigh was stabbed in the chest by the 17-year-old, while Esterine put his arm around Harleigh’s friend to prevent him from stepping in.
Esterine also held a knife to Harleigh’s friend’s chest, threatening to kill him unless he handed the passcode to his phone which was then stolen.
After being stabbed, Harleigh fled the scene but tragically was found lying in the park bleeding.
His friend called around for help but despite a passer-by stopping and calling the emergency services, Harleigh tragically died.
Meanwhile, Esterine and the 17-year-old left the park and ran away from the area, discarding one of the stolen phones in a nearby drain.
Two days after Harleigh’s death, detectives arrested the 17-year-old boy on March 9.
The following day on March 10, Esterine, of Sherwood Street, Wolverhampton, was arrested from his home.
The duo denied murder and refused to answer any further questions during police interviews.
However following a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the 17-year-old boy was found guilty of murder and robbery.
Esterine was found not-guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and robbery.
The pair were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, January 28.
The 17-year-old boy was jailed for a minimum of 17 years and Jovarn Esterine, 18, was jailed for six years.
Det Insp Ade George, who led the investigation by the West Midlands Police Homicide Unit, said: “Throughout this case our thoughts have always been with Harleigh’s family who have been devastated by his death.
“While the sentence cannot change the devastating impact of Harleigh’s murder, we hope that this may bring some peace and justice to all those who loved him and have to live without him.”