Breck Bednar.

On Sunday 23rd February the bells of St. John’s Church in Caterham Valley and St. Mary’s Church in Caterhamon- the-Hll were rung half muffled and prayers were said for 14 year-old Breck Bednar who was stabbed to death on Monday 17th February.

Breck had travelled by cab to meet an 18 year-old stranger in Grays in Essex that he had met over the internet. Breck had told his parents he would be staying with a friend overnight. Hours after he arrived, Breck was found dead at the flat by paramedics. He had been stabbed in the neck. Breck was a Year 10 student at St. Bede’s School in Redhill. He lived in Caterham with his mother Lorin LaFave and three younger siblings.

In a statement his parents said: “Our family is devastated by the loss of our beloved Breck David LaFave Bednar. He was a kind, intelligent, thoughtful boy with a good sense of humour and was a dedicated student at St Bede's School in Redhill and extremely gifted in computing, electronics, and engineering. Breck was a member of the Air Cadets with the 135 Squadron in Redhill and a member of St. John the Evangelist Church of England Church in Caterham.

“His three younger siblings knew him as a kind and loving older brother who always helped out by looking after them.”

Computer engineer Lewis Daynes, 18, of Roseberry Road, Grays, has been charged with murder. He has been remanded in custody and a plea and case management hearing is due to be held at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 28th April.