Detectives have found a knife which may have been used to kill South Woodham Ferrers chef Reynald Duchene as he left Southend’s Concert in the Park.

The blade is being forensically examined by officers to see if it was used to stab Mr Duchene as he tried to defend his fiancee.

He had been at the concert in Priory Park, Southend, as part of celebrations to mark fiancee Paula Haddlesey’s 44th birthday when the tragedy occurred.

The couple’s group of friends and family had made their way out of the exit into Priory Crescent when some men began jeering at Miss Haddlesey and telling her to hand over her picnic chairs.

Mr Duchene, from Arlington Square, South Woodham Ferrers, intervened and was briefly separated from the group, which was when a knife was plunged into his chest.

It is believed he was stabbed in front of Ms Haddlesey’s 15-year-old son, Lloyd, and a girl aged about seven, who was with her mother nearby.

It was not until they got back to their 14-seater minibus the group realised what had happened as Mr Duchene slid down the side of the door and collapsed.

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