The mother of one of two friends stabbed to death in Sneinton has pleaded for an end to knife crime.
Martin Maughan, 27, and another man, named locally as Junior Fuller, 38, were killed less than 24 hours apart at the weekend.
Mr Maughan died after being stabbed on West Walk, off Walker Street, just after 6am on Saturday.
Neighbours say, Mr Fuller, who knew Mr Maughan, was part of a party in his honour on Mill View Close, less than half a mile away, in the early hours of Sunday when he too was fatally stabbed.
Two people have been arrested in connection with Mr Maughan’s death but police are still hunting a suspect in relation to the stabbing of Mr Fuller.
On Monday Mr Maughan’s mother, Kathleen Maughan, posted a series of touching tributes to her son on Facebook, saying: “Our lives will never be the same I can’t put in to words the pain we are going through.
“His little girl who he worshipped, 18 months, will never hear her daddy saying ‘where’s my baby girl’ his five little nephews and niece will never be able to shout ‘uncle Marty’.
“So I’m begging for anyone that thinks of using a knife please think twice because it cost my son my best friend my world his life. From a broken hearted Mother.”
Although the two men knew each other detectives say they don’t believe the killings are directly linked and are tackling them with separate investigations.
Residents on Mill View Close said they had heard about the party on the street to honour Mr Maughan and were shocked when violence and shouting broke out in the early hours of Sunday.
Several people said they knew Mr Fuller as a good neighbour and father who loved his young children.
Leanne Loum, who lives on Sneinton Dale, said: “I heard them setting fireworks off for the lad who died about three or four o’clock. Then later I saw girls running up the street, saying ‘why did you stab him?’.
“I think it’s disgusting, my son knew him and he doesn’t really understand and keeps asking where he is. He was really nice and has got kids of his own.
“I just want out of this area now, there are so many murders and crime.”
Officers are yet to formally identify the victim at Mill View Close but he is being named by friends and neighbours as Mr Fuller, who is believed to have young children and live on the close.
Lizzy Butler wrote on Facebook: “Absolutely devastated, can’t take it in! This world we live in is a cruel place, you was still so young, so full of life and everything to live for, thoughts are with the whole Fuller family now.”
Police have arrested two men in connection with Mr Maughan’s murder. A 43-year-old, who has since been released on bail, and a 19-year-old, who is still in custody.
Detectives say they are still “actively seeking a suspect” in connection with the death of Mr Fuller, who was stabbed in the chest.
Chief Inspector Mark Stanley, of Notts Police, said on Sunday: “Scenes have been established at both of the incidents to make sure all available evidence is secured and preserved.
“We have increased visible patrols in the local area to reassure the local community and to provide them with appropriate information as to what has happened.
“The early indications are that these incidents are confined to people who are known to each other and who were at addresses they were invited to.”
Anyone with any information about either incident is asked to contact Notts Police on 101, quoting incident numbers 219 of December 10 and 174 of December 11.
