Ms Yemi Hughes, the devastated mother of a 19-year-old Nigerian teenager who was stabbed to death in Croydon, London has begged for witnesses to come forward.
Andre Aderemi was killed in the Monks Hill estate in South Croydon on Tuesday, August 16. He was stabbed multiple times after being pursued by three armed youths carrying weapons.
The teenager had moved away from the area but his mother Yemi Hughes dropped him off to see a friend at about 7.30pm that fateful day - just 10 minutes before he was stabbed. Ms Hughes said:
"I never thought this would be the last time that I saw him. I received a call to beg me to come as he was screaming for me but by the time I arrived the paramedics were fighting to save his life. I never got to see him alive again, to tell him how much I love him, to see his infectious smile, to cradle my baby in my arms and tell him that I would fix and make everything better," she said.
"I am begging for witnesses to come forward and give their accounts so that myself and Andre's little brothers can get some closure and justice for my son's murder. Nobody should die the way that he did and I am devastated not only by the loss of Andre but also by the manner in which he died. Our lives will never be the same again, so please if you know anything, no matter how small you think it is, can you pass it onto police."
Four persons have been arrested in connection with the murder. Investigators believe that a number of suspects may have sped off in a car after the stabbing. Detective Chief Inspector Sam Price said:
"Did you witness the incident last Tuesday or see a white vehicle on the estate that night? Did you see any other vehicles that may have been involved? Whilst enquiries are ongoing, we believe a number of people possibly fled the scene in a vehicle following the attack. Were any other individuals involved whom police are not already aware of? I am keen to speak with anyone who saw what happened."
Ali Zahawy, 18, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on yesterday, while Jamall Longergan, of Thornton Heath, Fabio Cela, of Croydon, and Rodney Mukasa, of Croydon, all aged 19, were due to appear at the Old Bailey.
