Mum of stabbed schoolboy's six months of 'sheer hell'... as killer is still walking streets

There should have been music, dancing and joy on Stretford's Lakes Estate this weekend. Siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews of Kennie Carter would have joined the teenager as he marked his 17th birthday this Sunday.

His loved ones will still gather to mark the occasion, but the most important person won't be there. Schoolboy Kennie was followed and stabbed to death as he walked home, on January 22.

As many as 14 people have been arrested in connection with his killing and 10 remain under investigation - not one above the age of 17 at the time of the attack. Those under investigation are now aged between 13 and 18. Yet detectives still need vital information to make a charge and closure for Kennie's family is a long way off.

READ MORE:Tragic teen at centre of murder investigation died after being stabbed in chest

For Kennie's family, the past six months have been torment as they try to piece their lives back together. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare - but for Joan Dixon and Glen Carter, the agony has been compounded by their painstaking wait for justice.

"Every day it's a battle with my own brain that I'm sat there doing nothing," Joan, 47, told the Manchester Evening News . "Somebody's hurt my 16-year-old baby.

"I know he's not a baby but to me he's a baby, he's my youngest of four." She added: "I've got Kennie on my mind 24-7, right now while I'm talking to you Kennie's in my head, while I'm asleep Kennie's in my head, when I wake up Kennie's in my head.

"Every day is the same thing, we'll sit there, and I'm sat on the edge of my chair every day, and it's as if I'm waiting for something every day - to be told there's been a breakthrough or something. I still even think he's gonna walk through