Charlie Cosser: Father of fatally stabbed teen speaks of trauma

The father of a 17-year-old boy who died following a stabbing at a party has spoken of the devastation it has caused his family.

Charlie Cosser, from Milford in Surrey, died two days after the attack in Warnham, West Sussex, on 23 July.

A 16-year-old boy from Chessington has pleaded guilty to his murder and will be sentenced on 11 September.

Speaking for the first time, Charlie's father, Martin, told the BBC the family was suffering a "massive trauma".

He told BBC Radio Surrey: "We've been inundated with love... everybody is being as kind and as caring as they possibly can be.

"But our emotions have been all over the place. It's all very numb and we are in denial."

Speaking of his son's character, he said he called him "Cheeks" and he was referred to as "Cheeky Charlie".

"He had a wicked sense of humour that was just unique," he said but added that "he didn't like raised voices, he was a gentle, gentle soul".

He questioned: "How can there be any sense in somebody using a weapon? There is no sense. And that act of violence has destroyed our lives."

He thanked Charlie's friends who have launched an appeal to urge others to "think twice" before carrying a knife.

The fundraiser, which has so far raised more than £19,000 for a charity combatting knife crime, said they did not want Charlie to have died in vain.

They urged "whoever it may concern" to "think twice before carrying a knife, as the consequences will be devastating before you even realise what you have caused.

"You not only ruin the victim's life, as well as their friends and family, but also yours," they said.

Charlie "fought long and hard through everything", they added, but his "bright presence" had been "cruelly robbed" from them.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].