THE police chief who led the investigation into the death of Dele Little today urged others to look at the tragedy as a reason not to carry knives.

Det Chief Insp Colin Mathews said the heartbreak of family of the 15-year-old, who suffered a fatal stab wound to the heart, should be enough to stop people carrying blades.

He spoke out after the Daily Echo revealed yesterday how police chiefs and community leaders were pleading for calm in the aftermath of the acquittal of Aaron Roche.

As reported, Mr Roche, 21, walked free from Winchester Crown Court after a jury unanimously cleared him of murder following a three-and-a-half week trial.

A heavy police presence has been put in place on the streets of the town where the former Testwood schoolboy lost his life in February this year.

Det Chief Insp Mathews, from Hampshire police's major crime department, said: "None of the numerous people affected by these tragic circumstances would be in this situation if Mr Roche had not taken a knife out with him that night.

"When you sit through a trial like this, the tragedy is obvious to all. Obviously Dele has lost his life. His family and friends have lost someone they care about at a very young age.

"What possessed a young man, who was only 20 at the time, to take out a weapon - and it is a weapon, it has no other use - amazes me.

"It's opened the eyes of everyone involved in this case that anyone can be carrying a knife.

"As parents, relatives or friends, we have to be aware now that even people with previously unblemished characters can be carrying weapons."

Det Chief Insp Mathews has been in charge of the investigation into Dele's death since he took a phone call on Saturday, February 3 to say that a 15-year-old boy had been stabbed.

"We were told at an early stage that the injury was so serious Dele was most likely to die. For his family and friends it is devastating.

"People carrying knives is a very serious issue in Southampton and Hampshire, but the problem is not just here - it's all over the country, and an issue that every police force is focused on fighting.

"Knives can be so small they can almost always be easily hidden, but the consequences can be so severe.

"We all need to work together to eradicate these problems, but it is not something police can do alone.

"There needs to be awareness of just what can happen. If you carry a knife there is clearly a higher chance you are going to use it and a far more likely chance of becoming a victim of knife crime yourself.

"I would urge people to look at this case, look at the tragedy surrounding it and ask themselves: why am I carrying a knife?'"