Killed fan was ‘living his dream’

FOOTBALL fan Stephen Smith was stabbed to death celebrating England’s win in Portugal while “living his dream”, his family said yesterday.

The 28-year-old mechanic was partying with thousands of other euphoric supporters in Lisbon before a pickpocket stabbed him in the heart.

Suspected illegal immigrant Vadym Abramov, 31, from the Ukraine, was arrested after the killing in the early hours of the morning, close to Lisbon’s main Rossio Square.

Abramov, known to local police as a thief who preys on tourists, was due to appear in court late yesterday.

The killing came just hours after England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia.

Yesterday, Stephen’s parents, John and Diane Smith, paid tribute to their son. The England team and the FA also sent the family their condolences.

In an emotional statement, Stephen’s parents said their son died during a round-the-world trip which started in April.

“Stephen, or Ste, as everyone knew him, was a hard-working man who would help anyone.

“We as a family are just glad Ste was living his dream when this tragedy happened. He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.”

The statement was read by Superintendent Mike Treble. He said Stephen, from Wolverhampton, had spent the last two years preparing to travel the world. “He was a man with great ambitions who was trying to fulfil that dream.”

Stephen, who was single with no children, was travelling with a friend and had been joined by others in Portugal for the matches.

Portuguese police said the stabbing was not football-related and urged England fans to maintain the peace of recent days.

The tragedy happened in Rua Augusta at 3.30am. Witnesses said the killer struck as around 200 fans were sitting at tables toasting England’s triumph.

Haskell Noah, 35, a delivery driver from north-west London, said: “This guy had been coming up and down for hours trying to take people’s wallets.

“We’d been telling the police about him but they didn’t do anything. An England guy pushed him away, he went away and came back about two minutes later and went straight over to a different guy just sitting at a table and stabbed him.”