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Mother locked herself in room with son's body to escape killer
Justin Davenport, Evening Standard19 Mar 2008
A mother who found her son battered to death at their home realised his attacker was still there and had to barricade herself in his room as the killer tried to break down the door.
University student Michael Jones, 18, had been tied to a chair and beaten and stabbed. Detectives investigating the murder said today that his mother Kathleen Kirby-Jones came upon her son's body in his bedroom and then became aware that someone was still in their Edmonton flat.
She locked the door before the intruder tried to batter it down to reach her. When police arrived she was too terrified to unlock the door and officers had to break it down.
Ms Kirby-Jones, who works for the DSS, has been under sedation since finding her son after she returned from work last Thursday. She and Michael's father, also called Michael Jones, separated several years ago.
Their son has been described as a quiet, hard-working student who was studying geography at Queen Mary, University of London, in Mile End.
Police believe he let the killer into their home and probably knew his attacker. Detectives have ruled out links to gangs or criminality and are examining the family's background in an effort to establish a motive for the murder.
Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald said: "The suspect remained in the property for some time and was still in the flat when Michael's mother arrived home from work. We cannot imagine a worse scenario for a mother to have to find her son murdered and then try to defend herself.
"We are still urgently appealing for anyone with information about this incident to come forward and help with the investigation."
Police are trying to trace a blue BMW 318 saloon with the registration number N118 FLA which they believe could be crucial to the inquiry. Officers believe it could be in Wembley, Willesden or Enfield.
They are also appealing for help in tracing some of Michael's possessions which appear to be missing. They include an 18-inch, nine-carat, gold neck chain with a crucifix and a figure of Christ on it and a gold ring with the initials MJ and three white stones on the M initial. A pair of Michael's glasses from Specsavers are also missing. They have gunmetal frames.
Anyone with information should call 020 8345 3985 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A 45-year-old man has been arrested by police and is still being held in custody.
