The murder of teen mum-to-be Nikitta Grender devastated the community where she lived and united it in grief. AILSA CHALK reports.

NIKITTA Grender’s death sent a shockwave through the Broadmead Park estate.

Dozens of floral tributes and soft toys were laid along the fence outside 51 Broadmead Park, many from those who had never met Miss Grender, but wanted to convey their condolences.

People from across the city gathered outside the flat to lay tributes and pay their respects to the young mum-to-be and her unborn child.

Neighbours spoke of their shock after being awoken on the morning of February 5, 2011, by fire-engines, and then hearing the news that Miss Grender had been murdered.

Now a year on, members of the community are trying to move on with their lives, but the boarded-up flat is a constant reminder of what happened. One neighbour said: “It’s still really sad because the tributes were outside the house for months afterwards and it’s all boarded up.”

Another said: “People are still thinking about what happened, but no-one’s really talking about it anymore.

“It’s sad but we’re trying to move on.”

Jimmy Stokes, assistant head at Hartridge High School, where Miss Grender was a pupil, said: “The children were badly affected by what happened.

“A lot of work has been done with her little brother. He has been well looked after by the head of year and he spent a good deal of time in the