HUNDREDS of people gathered in Hemel Hempstead town centre on Friday night to let off sky lanterns in tribute to murdered Billy Dove.
The area where the 21-year-old was stabbed on Sunday, November 6, was packed full of people in response to an invitation on social networking site Facebook.
People wanted to pay their respects to the young man and his family by being a part of the grand gesture.
They all lit their lanterns at 8pm and filled the night sky with them. Cheers went up as the lanterns sailed off into the atmosphere and people clapped and cried as they watched the breathtaking spectacle.
The killing of popular Billy Dove has shocked the Hemel Hempstead community.
A tree in Market Square where he was attacked at 1.30am that Sunday morning has become a shrine.
Cards, flowers, football shirts and scarves now decorate it and it has been dubbed ‘Billy’s Tree’ by the townspeople.
Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with murder and will appear at St Albans crown Court on Monday, February 6.