A man has been questioned by police after CCTV footage appeared to show him tearing down posters advertising a charity run in memory of Lainie Williams, a 17-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed at her family home in South Wales.
The footage shows the man removing fundraising flyers featuring Lainie from lampposts in the village of Cefn Fforest, near Blackwood. Police spoke to the man following reports of criminal damage, but no arrests have been made.
Residents angered by poster removal
The incident has angered local residents, who said the posters were intended to honour Lainie and raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance. One resident described the man as "horrible" and questioned why he had targeted the posters.
Neighbour Stephen Darknell, 48, had put up the posters ahead of a 100-day challenge in memory of Lainie. He plans to run 5km every day while raising money for the Wales Air Ambulance, which attended the scene of the fatal stabbing. The challenge begins on August 21 – what would have been Lainie's 18th birthday.
Charity challenge planned
Stephen said he knew Lainie's family and grandparents and wanted to do something positive to remember her while supporting the charity. He has been running since 2012 and hopes to encourage as many people as possible to take part in the challenge. The money raised will go to the Wales Air Ambulance in recognition of the emergency response to the attack.
Lainie was killed at her family home in November last year after suffering multiple stab wounds. Her former boyfriend, Cameron Cheng, 18, has been charged with her murder and the attempted murder of her mother, Rhian Stephens, 38, who was also seriously injured in the attack. A provisional date for his trial has yet to be fixed.
Family memories and trial pending
Lainie was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency crews arrived. An inquest recorded a provisional cause of death as multiple sharp force injuries. Her family have previously spoken about the impact of her death, with her mother describing her as a typical teenager who loved her friends and family and said she had "the biggest heart in the world".
The teenager's great-grandmother, Florence Jones, 78, recalled how Lainie fought for her life after being attacked in her bedroom, while her eight-year-old brother hid under his bed after hearing his sister's screams. The charity run is now set to go ahead in Lainie's memory, with Stephen hoping the challenge will keep her name alive while raising funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.
