FORMER school friends have paid tribute to David Joslin, after a man was charged with his killing.

The 23-year-old, who attended Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford, was punched to the ground and knocked unconscious as he intervened in a fight in Old Church Road, Chingford, shortly after 1.30am on December 19.

Despite the best efforts of specialist medical staff at the National Hospital for Neurology, 23-year-old David died shortly after 7am on Sunday December 27.

Dan O'Donoghue, 22, of East View in Chingford, was in the same year as David at Trinity and played football with him for a team in Chigwell.

He said: “When I first heard I was absolutely shocked. A friend told he was in hospital, and initially I hoped it wasn't that serious. Butthen a few days later I heard he had died. It was just horrendous.

“He was just a funny guy, always happy and smiling. He was one of those people who, whenever you were down, he would make you feel better.

“He was so easy to get along with. He had a lot of time for his mates. If he saw in trouble he would want to help them stick up for you. It's a great trait to have, and it's so sad that that was what got him into such trouble.

“I drove past the flowers at Chingford Mount the other day, I was absolutely choked. It show what type of guy he was and how much people thought of him.”

The school's headmaster, Dr Paul Doherty, said: “We were all very shocked to hear about what happened to David. He was a very likeable young man, a really good lad.

“I can remember only good things about him. He was well thought of by everyone, got along well with teachers and fellow pupils alike.”

Barry Oliver, 29, of Littleton Avenue, Chingford, is accused of manslaughter and appeared at Waltham Forest Magistrates Court (today) December 31, where he was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on April 8.

A second man and a woman arrested have been bailed until a date in February.