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Violent computer games and music led to my son's killing
Rashid Razaq, Evening Standard2 Apr 2008
Star pupil Amro Elbadawi, 14, was killed by a single knife wound to the throat during a dispute with another teenager on the Mozart estate in Queen's Park.
He became the 11th teenager killed in London this year - only hours after the 10th, 17-year-old Devoe Roach, was fatally stabbed in Stamford Hill last Thursday.
Sabri Elbadawi, 60, a mechanical engineer originally from Egypt, said today that his son had excelled at maths and science and dreamed of becoming a doctor.
Mr Elbadawi said: "Amro was a gentle, loving kid. He had friends from every race and religion. He was raised to see no difference and that's how he treated people. He was happy and easy-going and had no enemies.
"My son was never, ever involved in gangs or crime. These stories and pictures of him in gangs are complete rubbish. Technology is part of the problem. Kids are on the internet making these websites. They are nonsense.
"I came to London in the Seventies to study before Amro was born and then you could walk down the street at three or four in the morning and be safe. I just can't believe how bad a place it has become.
"These violent computer games where you go round stabbing and shooting people are awful. They encourage this behaviour. I also blame the music the kids listen to, full of swearing, with no respect for life."
The Prime Minister has backed calls for tighter regulation of computer games. Gordon Brown wants manufacturers to stop designing games where the characters carry knives and has joined calls for a cinema-style age classification.
Amro's family today told how the GCSE student was a member of a local running and martial arts club.
He and his older brother, Tarek, 16, trained in karate weekly and Amro was only a couple of bouts from obtaining a black belt.
He had also completed two junior marathons for charity.
Mr Elbadawi, who used to work for the General Electric Company, said: "Tarek is finding it hard to accept. They were so close, almost like one person. I also worry for my wife's mental state.
"This is such a devastating and upsetting time for us. We have a very large, extended family in Egypt and they couldn't believe that such a thing could happen in London."
Amro was the second eldest of three brothers and four sisters. He had attended Queen's Park Primary School and was in Year 10 at Paddington Academy.
Mr Elbadawi and his wife, Mervat, revealed that pupils had created a shrine to their son and were holding candlelit vigils outside their home.
"We've had hundreds of people come to pay their respects. Most of them knew Amro as somebody who made them laugh and would always try and help. An elderly woman neighbour, who Amro used to get groceries for and run errands, said having Amro around the estate made her feel safe.
"A lot has been done for the children around here. Two new youth centres have been built. There is only so much the Mayor can do. I would like to see more police booths - 24-hour places with maybe two officers in every area.
"I also think we should have national service for every 16-year-old who isn't at school, training or working.
"It should be made compulsory for them to join the Army. I only say this because I think it would teach them respect and discipline and I don't want what happened to my son to happen to any other child. This has to stop."
• A 16-year-old has been remanded in custody after appearing at West London youth court charged with murder.
Reader views (3)
Amro went to my school. He was dearly loved by everyone. He was in the year above so I never new him properly. All my friends told me how he was such a lovely person. From what i saw he was, always smiling and happy never upset or in pain. I miss seeing him around. Take care Amro R.I.P your gone but never forgotten.
- Mara, London, 07/04/2008 21:00
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How can you say it's parenting? so many kids go astray just by the influence of friends and peer pressure at school, think about how many hours does a person spends at school, in the time a lot can happen.
Education makes you or breaks you, he was clearly heading in the right direction.
some parents are oblivious to what their children are up to, not because they are not involved but because that what kids do, they hide things from their parents.
Laws need to be stronger... Regardless of the age, anyone found with a weapon should automatically be jailed for a minimum of 5 years, I think it will make them think twice carrying anything at all!
Its such a shame that London has become so violent! There are no limits these days.
The press and the public need to turn their attention to the government and force them to make a change now! Zero tolerance is the way forward, even if they are 12 years old! if they think they are "brave" and "big" enough to
carry a weapon that can selfishly take someone's life away then let them deal with the consequences.
- Heba, London, 02/04/2008 21:27
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No, I'm sorry but bad parenting was more of a contributing factor.
- Daveb, london, 02/04/2008 13:28
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