2 weeks Ago
Max was found injured in Jubilee Park near Tent Peg Lane at around 2.30pm on September 20. The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.
Tributes have since been paid to the “thoughtful and kind” boy who had his whole life ahead of him. Since his death, countless public appeals in the press and social media have also been released in the hope of finding those responsible for Max’ murder. Here is a timeline of events and everything we know so far about his case: Wednesday, September 20, 2023: Max Moy Wheatley dies after stabbing at Petts Wood park Max Moy Wheatley was found injured in Jubilee Park near Tent Peg Lane at around 2.
30pm. The 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after. Friday, September 22, 2023: Post-mortem examination A post-mortem conducted on September 22 confirmed Max’s cause of death was a stab wound to the heart.
Thursday, September 28, 2023: Police appeal launched to find two individuals An urgent appeal was launched by Metropolitan Police of two individuals they were looking identify and locate in connection with the investigation . Detective Chief Inspector Laura Semple, who led the investigation from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command said: "Our investigation has already made good progress in piecing together the events that led to the attack on Max, and we are now in a position to ask the public for their help in identifying these two males." Friday, September 29, 2023: Two teens arrested Two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of murder on September 29 following a police appeal.
Sunday, October 1, 2023: Two teens from Bellingham charged Two teens from Bellingham were charged with Max's murder. Billy Jay Benton, 18, of Playgreen Way, Bellingham, SE6 was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon. Arvie-Ray Mehmet, 19, of Arnulf Street, Bellingham, SE6 was charged with murder.
The pair were charged and were scheduled to appear at Bromley Magistrates' Court on October 2. Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Case discontinued against teens A decision was made by the Crown Prosecution Service to discontinue the case against the pair. Thursday, March 7, 2024: Tributes paid to “hardworking” and “determined” Max The News Shopper exclusively spoke to Max’s sister Tasha Wheatley - six months after he was “cruelly” taken away from their family.
Tasha described Max as a “thoughtful and kind kid” who was determined with his whole life ahead of him. The 30-year-old explained: “As a family, we can only wonder about the things he would have done and achieved. “He was determined and hardworking.
Max was only just finding his place in the world before he was cruelly taken away from us – his family who loved him so dearly. “Not only are we left with a hole within our family that will never be filled but we are left with a million whys with no answers, no justice, or any explanation. “One act, one stab wound was all it took to take Max away from us, he was only 19.
“He didn’t carry a knife, he disliked any sort of confrontation and much preferred a quiet life.” Opportunity to comfort Max was “taken away” from family Tasha said the opportunity to comfort Max moments before his death was “taken away” from their family. She said: “Not only was Max taken away from us in such a violent, cruel and mindless way what was also taken away from us was the opportunity to comfort him in his final moments.
“His death probably could have been slightly easier to bear, had we been able to hold his hand and comfort him and tell him that everything was going to be ok, even if it wasn’t going to be.” Family fear Max will become “another statistic” Tasha fears that Max will just “become another statistic” and “the person that died in Petts Wood”. She hopes the family can get justice for her brother but this possibility of this “seems so far away”.
Tasha explained: “As a family, so much has been taken away from us through one mindless act – one act that has now destroyed so many lives. “I could describe all the different things that have been taken from us in losing Max but some of the biggest things are how Max’s death has impacted our lives, but the worst of all is continuing on without him. “Max not being able to grow and create a life of his own, making plans he won’t attend, Max missing family milestones he should be a part of.
“Nothing can bring my little brother back, nothing can ease our pain and suffering but hopefully by continuing to talk about Max and who he was. “Max will be remembered for everything that was good about him, everything that we loved about him.”.
