Man, 21, charged with murder of London flower seller stabbed to death
A 21-year-old man has been charged with the murder of north London flower seller Tony Eastlake.
Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing in Islington on Saturday have charged James Peppiatt, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday.
Peppiatt, of Islington, was remanded in custody and is set to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Police were called to reports of an injured man in Essex Road at just before 5.30pm.
London Ambulance Service personnel rushed to save Mr Eastlake, 55, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The much-loved community figure was known as the ‘flower man of Islington’ and had worked at the same stall on Essex Road since the age of 14.
Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects at his flower stand, Florence & Fleur, on Monday night.
A chorus of ‘there’s only one Tony Eastlake’ reportedly broke out as friends and relatives took turns to share their memories of him and tributes poured in.
Jody Graber, a friend of the family, called for a mural of the florist on the wall behind his stand and was applauded as he said: ‘Everyone has a story about him and it’s all good.
‘There’s been a massive trauma in our community and it’s not right but that’s not for now. Now is for Tony Eastlake, the loveliest man to sell you a bunch of flowers.’
Specialist Crime Command detectives are continuing their investigation into the stabbing, police say.
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