Brilliant graduate killed...just for tackling thugs who threw sweet wrapper into his car

Evren Anil, 23, confronted the pair after the half-eaten Lion bar was tossed through the open window of his car when he stopped at traffic lights.

When Mr Anil got out of his black Peugeot, the "trivial" incident escalated, with one of the boys putting a knife to his throat.

A horrified witness rushed to a police station 100 yards away to get help - but it was closed for the weekend, the Old Bailey heard.

Mr Anil got into a scuffle with the boys - who cannot be named because they are aged 16 and 17 - and was knocked over, smashing his head on the pavement.

He collapsed in front of his horrified sister Elif, 26, who had been driving the car on their way to a friend's house.

Mr Anil managed to pick himself up and sit in the car, but fell unconscious a short time later.

He was taken to hospital where he died of his head injuries eight days later on August 13 with his family at his bedside.

He had been one week into a promising job after graduating with a first class honours degree in IT studies from Kingston University.

Yesterday his family sat in court as Joanna Korner, QC, prosecuting, told how the killing in the Gypsy Hill area of South London on August 5 resulted from "the most trivial of incidents".

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Mr Anil and his sister were waiting at traffic lights 100 yards from Gyspy Hill police station when the teenagers walked past on their way back from buying chicken and chips at a nearby takeaway.

Miss Korner said: "Mr Anil got out the car and threw the item, which was found to be a half-chewed Lion bar, back towards them.

"Both defendants stopped and turned to face Mr Anil."

Witness Derek Porter told police he saw the 17-year-old then reach for a knife in his waistband, "challenging him like a gunfighter from a Western film".

Mr Porter told officers: "He took out a knife and handed it to the taller one [the 16-year-old]. The man and the taller youth stood face to face.

"I noticed he was holding a knife in his right hand.

"I thought that this was getting dangerous and out of hand so I stepped between the two men and faced the black youth and said, 'F*** off'.

"The taller youth held the knife two inches from my face."

Miss Korner said Mr Porter showed "considerable courage" to step between Mr Anil and the 16-year-old boy before dashing to the police station nearby.

But, said Miss Korner, "most regrettably the police station is shut on weekends so he used the phone to ring up the police to say there was going to be trouble.

"But by the time he returned to the scene the incident had taken place."

Witnesses described seeing the 17-year-old punch Mr Anil in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Anil, the youngest of four children, was a talented footballer and was involved with local club Croydon City, where he had been voted player of the year two years in a row.

He also dedicated some of his time to helping young people in extra maths and English classes.

He had arrived in London from Turkey aged three and lived in Upper Norwood, South-East London, with his father Niyazi, 52, a retired caterer, and mother Altun, 48.

The teenagers admitted killing Mr Anil as their trial was due to start at the Old Bailey.

On Monday, the 16-year-old admitted manslaughter and possession of an article with a blade or point.

The other defendant, who was due to stand trial alone, admitted the same charges yesterday.

Judge Ann Goddard asked for probation reports to be prepared before sentencing on April 4.

She told the pair: "This is not with a view to passing a community sentence. It seems to me custody is the appropriate sentence."

The judge said she would consider lifting the ban on publishing their names at sentencing.

Last night Elif Anil's fiance Turgay Yoldas said: "It has been so difficult, but hopefully after the case we will get closure, it is what the family needs right now."