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Murdered boy came to UK for better life after parents died
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard21 Feb 2008
Friends of a schoolboy stabbed and kicked to death by a gang today revealed how he came to London in search of a better life after his parents died in his native Nigeria.
Fifteen-year-old Sunday Essiet was chased and killed by a group of six youths following a row on Tuesday as he walked through the Glyndon Estate in Plumstead.
Witnesses described how the teenager was "kicked like a football" and stabbed repeatedly after being pulled from a wall in Invermore Place. He was the fifth teenager to be murdered in London this year.
Today Sunday's friends said he had been sent from Nigeria at the age of six or seven having become orphaned following the deaths of both his parents.
Sunday's best friend Abu Mansaray, 17, said the news of his death had still not sunk in. He said: "I was like a brother to him. He was struggling, struggling all his life - coming here from Nigeria at primary school age for a better life. But he was a happy boy, and loved football and supported Manchester United.
"When he was around everyone was happy. He was so funny, always cracking jokes - that is why we can never forget him."
Sunday, a Year 11 pupil at Geoffrey Chaucer Technology College in Southwark, was staying with a guardian in the UK.
It is thought he was attacked by a Somalian gang dealing crack and heroin in the area. Locals suggested the death was linked to a drug "turf war" between the Somali gang and the T-Block gang from Thamesmead. But Mr Mansaray insisted that Sunday was not in a gang.
He added: "He was sick - he had bad asthma. He was at school, studying for his GCSEs. I kept telling him, 'just one more year until you're finished'. He was focused on doing well.
"Everyone is crying. We are all still so shocked. Everyone thinks it is a dream but we are all having the same dream.
"I am, still wishing it is not him. His girlfriendis just crying all the time too." Another friend, who did not want to be named, said: "His parents are dead. He was a good, sweet kid, Everyone knew him, he was such a popular guy."
The attack took place at just after 4pm on Tuesday. A boy, thought to be Sunday's friend, ran into nearby Greenwich Community College to beg for help. A security guard raised the alarm. Sheila Moss, 40, saw the assault. She said: "They kicked him like a football and stamped on him. They made sure he was dead."
Paul Whisker, 53, who telephoned the ambulance and stayed with the victim until the emergency services arrived, said: "He had a lot of blood coming from his mouth. There was blood all over the road.
"The victim was lying on his side. His eyes were open but you could see there was no life there. He was gazing into space."
Results from a post mortem examination were due today. Detective Superintendent Phil Adams, leading the murder investigation, said: "This incident has taken place in the middle of an estate, with a number of properties overlooking not only the initial incident but the subsequent fatal assault.
"I am pleased to say we've already had a large number of people from the local community come forward, but we would still like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information."
Reader views (1)
R.I.P Sunday. Knew you before you moved to south London, you should have stayed in Hackney.
- Mt, east, 21/02/2008 15:15
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