FAMILY and friends are paying tribute to a young sound engineer who died when he was doing what he loved most – recording music. Tom-Louis Easton, 22, a former Roysia and Meridian School pupil suffered multiple stab wounds to the heart just one week befor

FAMILY and friends are paying tribute to a young sound engineer who died when he was doing what he loved most - recording music.

Tom-Louis Easton, 22, a former Roysia and Meridian School pupil suffered multiple stab wounds to the heart just one week before his 23rd birthday.

The incident happened on September 15 while Tom was working at the Islington Council-run EC1 Music Project.

He worked at the studio part-time to help disadvantaged youths become involved in music.

Tom became involved with the project in February last year and had produced more than 200 recordings and worked with more than 300 people including X-Factor stars Journey South.

Islington's Council's director of children's services Paul Curran said: "We have lost a valued colleague.

"He was making a big contribution to the community. Everyone is shocked and stunned by this."

Born in Crouch End, north London, Tom graduated in sound engineering from Islington's School of Audio Engineering,

He was passionate about urban music and had recently set up his own record label, Flavasum and was planning to release his first single, Voodoo, before the tragic incident.

Headteacher of The Meridian School, Dr Michael Firth, said: "It's an outrage and sends a shiver down my spine.

"This was a young man who made such a career for himself. He was helping others and doing something he loved and this is what happens."

Tom's family including mother Dolores Altaras who lives in Barkway, and his father Brian Easton are 'absolutely devastated and in a state of shock and disbelief that such a warm and generous young man, in the prime of his life, should have died in this way.

In his memory, they have set up the Tom Easton Flavasum Trust to help prevent other young people from dying in similar circumstances.

Daisy Kirkwood, 22, Tom's girlfirend said: "Tom really enjoyed working with young people, helping to mould them and bring out the best in them.

"Tom was always happy and always looked on the bright side and that's how we want to remember him."

For more information about the trust visit: www.myspace.com/flavasumproductions.

- Barrington Marcus McKenzie, a 22-year-old man of Plaistow, East London, has been charged with murder. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on December 22.