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Murdered boy 'turned down fight' | Murdered boy 'turned down fight' |
(40 minutes later) | |
A murdered boy, described as a "gentle giant" by his parents, had tried to avoid a fight minutes before he was killed at a baker's shop. | A murdered boy, described as a "gentle giant" by his parents, had tried to avoid a fight minutes before he was killed at a baker's shop. |
Police say Jimmy Mizen's attacker had ordered him to fight outside the shop in Lee, south-east London, on Saturday, but the 16-year-old refused. | Police say Jimmy Mizen's attacker had ordered him to fight outside the shop in Lee, south-east London, on Saturday, but the 16-year-old refused. |
The murderer left but later smashed his way back into the store and delivered a fatal blow, police said. | The murderer left but later smashed his way back into the store and delivered a fatal blow, police said. |
Officers said post-mortem tests showed Jimmy's throat had been cut by glass. | Officers said post-mortem tests showed Jimmy's throat had been cut by glass. |
His parents told the BBC their son was a "wonderful" boy who had only celebrated his 16th birthday the day before his death. | His parents told the BBC their son was a "wonderful" boy who had only celebrated his 16th birthday the day before his death. |
Margaret and Barry Mizen said the night before Jimmy was attacked "the last thing we did was we all cuddled".A Mass was held in honour of Jimmy Mizen | Margaret and Barry Mizen said the night before Jimmy was attacked "the last thing we did was we all cuddled".A Mass was held in honour of Jimmy Mizen |
They said Jimmy, who was one of nine children and lived in Lee, was "very content". | They said Jimmy, who was one of nine children and lived in Lee, was "very content". |
Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons said the attack happened at the Three Cooks Bakery in Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, on Saturday. | Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons said the attack happened at the Three Cooks Bakery in Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, on Saturday. |
He said Jimmy had gone into the shop with an older brother after buying his first lottery ticket. | |
Mr Lyons said: "The youth, intent on violence, offered him (Jimmy) outside for a fight. | Mr Lyons said: "The youth, intent on violence, offered him (Jimmy) outside for a fight. |
"Jimmy, being the type of man he is, declined that that fight, and the aggressor was left outside the bakery. | |
"Not content with matters ending there, the youth then proceeded to smash down the door of the bakery, shattering the glass. | |
He also picked up an advertising board and took it inside the bakery and wielded it around. A fight ensued and Jimmy received a fatal blow to his neck, cutting his throat with some glass. | |
They haven't got wonderful memories for their son. All they can think about is the evil he's done. My prayers are with the family, that's all I can say Margaret Mizen | |
"Jimmy was a person of immaculate character, as was everyone from the Mizen family, and he is a victim of an entirely unprovoked and vicious attack." | |
Mr Lyons said a number of premises had been searched in the hunt for the murderer but no-one had been arrested. | |
He said detectives wanted to trace a middle-aged white man who witnessed a significant amount of the attack. | He said detectives wanted to trace a middle-aged white man who witnessed a significant amount of the attack. |
Earlier on Sunday, family and friends observed an emotional two-minute silence outside Our Lady of Lourdes church where Jimmy had been an altar boy. | |
Mrs Mizen said: "Jimmy was just the sweetest boy you could ever meet. | |
"Just a fine young man. Happy all the time. Whistled as he walked down the road. | "Just a fine young man. Happy all the time. Whistled as he walked down the road. |
"There was a simplicity in Jimmy. He did not have airs and graces." | "There was a simplicity in Jimmy. He did not have airs and graces." |
She said she had no anger for his killer. She said: "I feel for the parents of this boy. Margaret Mizen said her son's death was a great loss to all | |
"I don't know why, I can't get them out of my mind because what's happened to Jimmy is the worst thing possible, but we've got such wonderful memories. | |
"They haven't got wonderful memories for their son. All they can think about is the evil he's done. My prayers are with the family, that's all I can say. I can't, I don't feel anger." | |
Jimmy had six brothers, Danny, 30, Billy, 28, Tommy, 26, Bobby, 24, Harry, 18 and George, eight and two sisters, Joanne, 35, and 21-year-old Samantha. | |
Mr Mizen, 56, said: "He loved his family, his family loved him. Jimmy was able to express that love as well. | Mr Mizen, 56, said: "He loved his family, his family loved him. Jimmy was able to express that love as well. |
"You could give Jimmy a hug, no problem at all. Jimmy would give me a kiss when I dropped him off at school. You don't see many teenagers do that." | "You could give Jimmy a hug, no problem at all. Jimmy would give me a kiss when I dropped him off at school. You don't see many teenagers do that." |
"An innate decency ran through Jimmy's body. He was a decent, fine young fella, protective of other people, protective of maybe the weak." | "An innate decency ran through Jimmy's body. He was a decent, fine young fella, protective of other people, protective of maybe the weak." |
Jimmy is the 13th teenager to be killed in London since the start of the year. | Jimmy is the 13th teenager to be killed in London since the start of the year. |
LOCATIONS OF TEENAGE KILLINGS IN 2008 (1) 1 January: Henry Bolombi, 17, stabbed, Edmonton, north London(2) 5 January: Faridon Alizada, 18, stabbed, Erith, south-east London(3) 21 January: Boduka Mudianga, 18, stabbed, Edmonton, north London(4) 26 January: Fuad Buraleh, 19, beaten, West Ealing(5) 19 February: Sunday Essiet, 15, stabbed, Woolwich, south-east London(6) 23 February: Tung Le, 17, stabbed, Westminster, central London(7) 29 February: Ofiyke Nmezu, 16, beaten, Enfield, north London(8)13 March: Michael Alexander Jones, 18, stabbed, Edmonton, north London(9) 14 March: Nicholas Clarke, 19, shot, Brixton, south London (10) 27 March: Devoe Roach, 17, stabbed, Stoke Newington, north London(11) 27 March: Amro Elbadawi, 14, stabbed, Queen's Park, west London(12) 3 May: Lyle Tulloch, 15, stabbed, Borough, south London(13) 10 May: Jimmy Mizen, 16, Lee, south-east London | LOCATIONS OF TEENAGE KILLINGS IN 2008 (1) 1 January: Henry Bolombi, 17, stabbed, Edmonton, north London(2) 5 January: Faridon Alizada, 18, stabbed, Erith, south-east London(3) 21 January: Boduka Mudianga, 18, stabbed, Edmonton, north London(4) 26 January: Fuad Buraleh, 19, beaten, West Ealing(5) 19 February: Sunday Essiet, 15, stabbed, Woolwich, south-east London(6) 23 February: Tung Le, 17, stabbed, Westminster, central London(7) 29 February: Ofiyke Nmezu, 16, beaten, Enfield, north London(8)13 March: Michael Alexander Jones, 18, stabbed, Edmonton, north London(9) 14 March: Nicholas Clarke, 19, shot, Brixton, south London (10) 27 March: Devoe Roach, 17, stabbed, Stoke Newington, north London(11) 27 March: Amro Elbadawi, 14, stabbed, Queen's Park, west London(12) 3 May: Lyle Tulloch, 15, stabbed, Borough, south London(13) 10 May: Jimmy Mizen, 16, Lee, south-east London |