Man stabbed to death after fight in Coventry gardens

A man has been stabbed to death in a fight in Coventry.

The victim, named locally as Emanuel Lukenga, was fatally stabbed in the leg in the Tile Hill area of the city on Wednesday afternoon.

The 21-year-old was pronounced dead in Franklin Grove shortly after police were called at 14:30 BST.

West Midlands Police said a group was seen running across Tile Hill Lane "moments" before the brawl broke out. No arrests have been made.

Mr Lukenga's friend Scott Hunter said he had known him since he arrived in the UK as a child and the pair played football together.

"He'd literally just come to the UK and I remember, he couldn't speak English or anything.

"It's changed my life," he said.

Coventry councillor Lynnette Kelly said the victim went to school with one of her children "and I know that his family and friends will be devastated".

Leighton Brady, the owner of Coventry's Toe-2-Toe Boxing Academy, said Mr Lukenga had "fought for us a couple of times about a year ago" but had not been in recent months.

He said he was very talented, adding: "He was a lovely lad and everyone is really cut up about it."

Det Insp Nick Barnes said: "We understand a group of around six or seven young men were fighting in rear gardens off Franklin Grove when one suffered a fatal stab wound."

The victim has yet to be formally identified by the force.

Floral tributes to "Manny" were left at the scene on Thursday. A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Friday.

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