17 October 2012
Lava & Ignite nightclub tragedy:
Officers launch new appeal for information
Police officers investigating the tragic incident at the
Wickedest Wickedest event at Northampton’s Lava & Ignite
nightclub in October last year are launching a new witness
appeal.
A year on from the tragedy, which led to the deaths of two young
women, officers are contacting universities across the country with
the hope of identifying remaining key witnesses.
A hard-hitting poster, using a photo from inside the club as the
crush was taking place on a staircase, is being circulated to the
universities.
CCTV clips from within the club are also being released and
circulated via social networking sites in a bid to identify people
who were on the staircase both immediately prior to and immediately
after the incident.
Approximately 1,500 young people from all over the country
attended the Wickedest Wickedest club night at Lava & Ignite on
the evening of Tuesday 18 October into the early hours of Wednesday
19 October. Many were university students who travelled to
Northampton in organised coaches.
Officers have spoken to over 1,000 people as part of the
investigation, including those who attended the event, emergency
services staff and staff at the club, but are still working to
identify 28 key witnesses in the poster. Officers would also like
to speak to anyone who was there on the evening who has not yet
come forward.
Detective Inspector Louise Hemingway said: “We have spoken to
over 1,000 witnesses and reviewed several hours of CCTV footage. In
doing so, it has become apparent that, whilst we have a clear
picture of what happened, there are a small number of key witnesses
that we have yet to speak to who were in the immediate vicinity of
where the two young women were crushed.
“We need the help of the people in the CCTV and the poster to
piece together what happened. No-one is in trouble – we don’t
suspect anyone in these images of a crime – we just need their help
as key witnesses to what happened during the tragedy so that we can
bring our investigation to a conclusion.
“Many of the people attending Wickedest Wickedest were extremely
brave and courageous during the incident, showing huge compassion
and support for the people who were injured and helping them to
safety.
“We are coming up to a year on from the tragic event and are
hoping this appeal may jog people’s memories and they may feel that
they are now able to speak to us.
“Please contact us if you’re in the poster or CCTV clip or
recognise anyone – a photo or video can tell us many things but
only the people who were there on the night can tell us first
hand.”
Nabila Nanfuka, a 22-year-old student from, Neasden, North
London, died at Northampton General Hospital on Wednesday 19
October 2011. Nabila was studying leisure and tourism at the
University of Northampton.
Laurene-Danielle Jackson, a 19-year-old student from Shepherd’s
Bush, died at Leicester Glenfield Hospital on Sunday 6 November
2011. Laurene-Danielle was studying psychology and criminology at
Kingston University London.
Angela Ferdinand and Ronato Jackson, the parents of
Laurene-Danielle Jackson, have released a statement appealing
directly to those who attended the event:
“We would like to make an appeal to any one of the 28 people who
have not yet come forward who attended the Lava & Ignite
nightclub in Northampton on the 18th of October 2011.
“As parents of Laurene-Danielle who lost her life we can
appreciate how upsetting it must be to re-live the tragedy of that
night, but we are urging you to please come forward with any
information, no matter how small it may be, so that we can try to
understand what happened and why we lost our beautiful
daughter.
“If it were you we are sure you would want all the information
needed to get some kind of closure. Please imagine if it was you
who had lost a daughter, sister, cousin or niece.
“Laurene-Danielle was only 19 and still had a lot to give in her
life and we just need to know what happened. There are still a lot
of blank pieces that the police need in order to continue their
investigation. We do not want Laurene-Danielle’s death to go
unanswered.”
The investigation remains ongoing and the officers are working
alongside health and safety investigators from Northampton Borough
Council.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Northamptonshire
Police through any of the following routes:
Phone: 01604 888006
Text: 07557 775005
Email: northampton-nightclub@northants.police.uk
Post: Operation Seahorse, Wootton Hall, Northampton, NN4 0JQ.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ClubTragedy
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ClubTragedy
Web: www.northants.police.uk/ClubTragedy
