Devastated sibling speaks about the loss of her best friend

The heartbroken sister of a young mother who was stabbed to death has spoken out about the loss of her ‘best friend’.

Zandra Maxwell-Nelson, 24, of Nicoll Road, Harlesden, died after she was knifed 15 times in Durban Road, Tottenham, on April 20.

The sudden death of the former pupil of John Kelly Girl’s School (now Crest Academy) in Neasden, has left a network of grieving friends and family in shock and disbelief, including her two sons aged just two and 18-months.

Afiya, one of Ms Maxwell-Nelson’s sisters, told the Times she was struggling to cope with the death of her sibling who was also her best friend.

She said: “It’s so hard.

“Everyday I wake up and I realised she’s gone and I’ll never see her again.

“It’s hard for the family, it’s hard for her friends. This has just torn everyone apart.

“We have had to tell her sons that their mum is not here and when the younger one asks for her we tell him she is in the sky.

“Zandra was not just my sister, we were more like twins as we were so close. She was my best friend and I miss her so much.”

Ms Maxwell-Nelson was a month away from completing a degree at Thames Valley University and was involved in a community project to help disenfranchised young black youths when she died.

Her sister said: “She wanted to go around schools and speak to youths who had or were in danger of taking the wrong path in life.

“She was a premature baby so she started her life with a fight and continued battling for other people.

“She had so much potential because she always put everyone first.

“She always saw the good in people never the bad and was always the first to help anyone.

“She will be so missed.

“Zandra may have gone but she still lives on in her two sons.”

Nathaniel Brown, 26, of no fixed address, has been charged with Ms Maxwell-Nelson’s murder.

He is due to appear before the Old Bailey on June 23 for a plea and case management hearing.