The sister of a 19-year-old boy who was killed at a park in Petts Wood has said the opportunity to hold her brother’s hand and comfort him moments before his death was “taken away from her”.

Max Moy Wheatley was stabbed to death in Jubilee Park near Tent Peg Lane at around 2.30pm on September 20.

The News Shopper exclusively spoke to Max’s sister, Tasha Wheatley, six months after he was “cruelly” taken away from their family.

Tasha described Max as a “thoughtful and kind kid” who was determined with his whole life ahead of him.

She explained: “As a family, we can only wonder about the things he would have done and achieved.

“He was determined and hardworking. Max was only just finding his place in the world before he was cruelly taken away from us – his family who loved him so dearly.

“Not only are we left with a hole within our family that will never be filled but we are left with a million whys - with no answers, no justice, or any explanation.

“One act, one stab wound was all it took to take Max away from us, he was only 19.

“He didn’t carry a knife, he disliked any sort of confrontation and much preferred a quiet life.”

A post-mortem conducted on September 22 confirmed Max’s cause of death was a stab wound to the heart.

Max loved “simple things” like listening to music and spending time with his friends and family, Tasha added.

She said: “Max had a clear sense of right and wrong and would always stand firm in the decisions he made.

“He wasn’t a horrible kid in any way, shape or form.

“Although, like most teenagers, he could definitely be a little moody sometimes.

“Max was a son, a brother, an uncle. He was a boy that would help anyone if he was able to.

“Max had big dreams and I honestly believe he had the determination to follow them but sadly he did not get that chance.”

On September 30, two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of murder following a police appeal.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police confirmed a decision was made by the Crown Prosecution Service to discontinue the case against the pair. 

Tasha said the opportunity to comfort Max moments before his death was “taken away” from their family.

She said: “Not only was Max taken away from us in such a violent, cruel and mindless way what was also taken away from us was the opportunity to comfort him in his final moments.

“His death probably could have been slightly easier to bear, had we been able to hold his hand and comfort him and tell him that everything was going to be okay, even if it wasn’t going to be.”

Tasha fears that Max will just “become another statistic” and “the person that died in Petts Wood”.

She hopes the family can get justice for her brother but this possibility of this “seems so far away”.

Tasha explained: “As a family, so much has been taken away from us through one mindless act – one act that has now destroyed so many lives.

“I could describe all the different things that have been taken from us in losing Max but some of the biggest things are how Max’s death has impacted our lives, but the worst of all is continuing on without him.

“Max not being able to grow and create a life of his own, making plans he won’t attend, Max missing family milestones he should be a part of.

“Nothing can bring my little brother back, nothing can ease our pain and suffering but hopefully by continuing to talk about Max and who he was.

“Max will be remembered for everything that was good about him, everything that we loved about him.”