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Murdered boy 'turned down fight' | Murdered boy 'turned down fight' |
(10 minutes later) | |
A murdered teenager, described as a "gentle giant" by his parents, had tried to avoid a fight minutes before his death. | A murdered teenager, described as a "gentle giant" by his parents, had tried to avoid a fight minutes before his death. |
Police say the attacker had ordered Jimmy Mizen, 16, to leave a baker's shop so that he could fight him. | Police say the attacker had ordered Jimmy Mizen, 16, to leave a baker's shop so that he could fight him. |
But after leaving, the murderer smashed his way back into the store in south-east London and delivered a fatal blow. | |
Police said post-mortem tests showed Jimmy's neck had been cut by glass. | Police said post-mortem tests showed Jimmy's neck had been cut by glass. |
Meanwhile, Jimmy's parents told the BBC their son was a "wonderful" boy who had only celebrated his 16th birthday the day before his death. | Meanwhile, Jimmy's 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". | 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 | A Mass was held in honour of Jimmy Mizen |
They said Jimmy, who was one of nine children and lived in Lee, south-east London, was "very content". | |
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 a lottery ticket. | |
Mr Lyons said: "The youth, intent on violence, offered him (Jimmy) outside for a fight. | |
"Jimmy, being the type of man he was, declined that offer." | |
However, after leaving the shop, the attacker smashed his way back in and Jimmy was hit in the neck with a shard of glass. | |
Mr Lyons said a number of premises had been searched in the hunt for the murderer but no-one had been arrested. | |
Margaret Mizen said her son's death was a great loss to all | |
He said detectives wanted to trace a middle-aged white man who witnessed a significant amount of the attack. | |
Jimmy's parents have paid tribute to their son. 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, "My prayers are with the family that's all I can say. I can't, I don't feel anger". | She said she had no anger for his killer, "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. | 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." |
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. | 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. |
Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons, who is leading the hunt for Jimmy's killer, said: "This is another tragic incident where a young victim has lost his life." | Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons, who is leading the hunt for Jimmy's killer, said: "This is another tragic incident where a young victim has lost his life." |
He appealed for anyone who saw the attacker, who ran off along Burnt Ash Hill towards Burnt Ash Lane, to contact them. | He appealed for anyone who saw the attacker, who ran off along Burnt Ash Hill towards Burnt Ash Lane, to contact them. |
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. |