University student tied up and beaten to death by gang in his own home

Michael Jones was found lying in a pool of blood by his mother when she returned from work.

The 18-year-old geography undergraduate had been tied up before suffering horrific head injuries.

Police believe he may have known his killers because there was no sign of a break-in.

But detectives are baffled as to why anyone would want to hurt him.

He was devoted to his studies at Queen Mary's University in East London and had never been in trouble with police.

Michael is the fourth teenager to be murdered in his area since the New Year.

Although police are dealing with speculation about a local gang war, they do not believe his death has any connection to this.

Michael's mother Kathleen, who is separated from his father, spoke to him at 9.30am on Thursday after she left the family home in Edmonton, North London for her job as a PA.

She made the horrific discovery when she returned just after 5pm.

Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: "Michael was a hardworking lad who had been studying hard at university.

"We might consider if this was a burglary but when you look at the level of violence it is not really what you would expect.

"We don't know of any reason why Michael would have been targeted. There were horrendous head injuries.

"There is an indication that some form of restraint was used. The head injuries are consistent with a knife or similar instrument.

"There were no signs of a break-in and we will have to look at the possibility he knew his killers.

"The motive is unknown and really the main issues are if anyone has seen him on Thursday. At this stage we don't think it's likely Michael left the house.

"There have been several murders in Edmonton this year, but we do not think it is likely there is any link between this death and any of the others.

"Michael was not known to us, and as far as we know he has not been in any sort of trouble before.

"He is certainly not the kind of person who would have invited anything like this."

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Mr Macdonald said nothing appeared to have been stolen from the house. A neighbour said: "I heard a lot of noise of people running up and down the stairs and someone rang on our door bell and when my husband looked out there was no one there.

"That was between 12pm and 1pm. I used to see Michael going to university and he would always say good morning and good evening. He was a very, very nice boy."