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Grief of hit-and-run boy's family | Grief of hit-and-run boy's family |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The father of a schoolboy killed in a hit-and-run crash has spoken of his family's grief and their disbelief at the actions of the driver. | |
Michael Anderson, 37, said he could not understand how someone could have left his 10-year-old son Jack to die. | Michael Anderson, 37, said he could not understand how someone could have left his 10-year-old son Jack to die. |
Mr Anderson and his wife Yvonne, 36, made an appeal for information about the incident in Edinburgh on Thursday. | Mr Anderson and his wife Yvonne, 36, made an appeal for information about the incident in Edinburgh on Thursday. |
Detective Superintendent Craig Naylor said officers were treating the death of the boy as murder. | |
Mr Anderson, who broke down while reading a statement, said Jack was a "quiet lad but always happy". | |
Jack was hit by a green Peugeot 406 with the registration number W118 WDS on Saughton Road North, near his Edinburgh home, at 1525 BST on Thursday. He died shortly after in hospital. | |
The youngster had just left Carrick Knowe Primary School for the day when the crash happened. | |
Why Jack? He had crossed that road thousands of times, it was the safest part of the road Michael AndersonJack's father | |
The car, which had three occupants, overtook stationary traffic at the crossing and hit Jack. | |
Mr and Mrs Anderson, who were both wearing black, were joined by Mr Naylor, the officer leading the inquiry, at a media conference on Tuesday. | |
Mr Anderson said: "We're still coming to terms with what happened. We think of the things we never had a chance to do with him - walking him to secondary school, taking him running. | Mr Anderson said: "We're still coming to terms with what happened. We think of the things we never had a chance to do with him - walking him to secondary school, taking him running. |
"It is difficult to accept. | "It is difficult to accept. |
"Why Jack? He had crossed that road thousands of times, it was the safest part of the road and in his words 'That's the right place to cross the road'. | "Why Jack? He had crossed that road thousands of times, it was the safest part of the road and in his words 'That's the right place to cross the road'. |
"We don't understand why someone would do that to him and leave him." | |
Mr Anderson was comforted by his wife at the conference | |
Speaking about his son's nature, Mr Anderson said: "He was a quiet lad but always happy. You couldn't fault him at all. He loved playing outside with his friends. | |
"Jack was a huge Star Wars fan. He was fascinated with the films and would play games based on them. | |
"I just found a letter he had written to Santa for his Christmas asking for a Star Wars II Lego PlayStation game. | |
"He had just joined the choir at Carrick Knowe Primary School, he loved acting and dressing up." | |
Mr Anderson added: "Next year I was going to take him running with me." | |
As he finished his prepared statement, Mr Anderson broke down and was helped out of the media conference by his wife, who did not speak to reporters. | |
'Cold-hearted individuals' | |
Mr Naylor appealed to anyone who recognised the description of the car to come forward. | |
He said: "We also want to appeal to the criminal fraternity to let us know if they have any information about what happened on Thursday, 5 October. | |
"We are dealing with callous, cold-hearted individuals who have not hesitated in murdering a 10-year-old boy. | |
"If you know of someone who has recently had a large green car and no longer has it then please call us. | |
"Also if you know anyone who has disappeared, who had a green car, or someone whose behaviour has changed significantly since last Thursday contact us." |