THE first picture has been released of teenage Southampton murder victim Mikhail Thomas.

Police have published the picture of the youngster in the hope of getting witnesses to come forward to help them find his killer.

As reported in the Daily Echo, 18-year-old Mikhail died after he was stabbed in the Newtown area of the city.

Police believe Mikhail was involved in a argument around the Cranbury Road and Derby Road area with two other people just before he was stabbed to death.

After the incident the teenager was driven to the Royal South Hants Hospital by an acquaintance at 11.27pm on Wednesday.

Despite the efforts of paramedics who took him to Southampton General Hospital he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A post-mortem revealed he died of a single stab wound.

Today police released his photo and urged any witnesses who saw Mikhail that night to come forward. A police spokesman said: "We would still ask anyone who saw an argument between three men around 11pm or any events subsequently that would help police with their inquiries to come forward."

Mikhail's father, who is thought to live in the Shirley area of the city, was too upset to speak about the death of his son who was born in Jamaica and

had been living at various addresses in Southampton for four years.

As yet no murder weapon has been found and police are continuing to conduct house-to-house inquiries in the area.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the major incident room in Hulse Road on

0845 045 4545 quoting the operation name Holbrook or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.