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Stab victim's family ask PM to act on knives
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard08.09.08
The family of murdered teenager Charles Junior Hendricks is writing to the Prime Minister demanding more action to clamp down on knife crime.
CJ Hendricks, 18, became the 24th teenager to be killed in the capital this year when he was attacked near the site of a proposed Olympics party last month.
He was found in a pool of blood by police officers on patrol near a bus garage in Walthamstow, causing one of the London 2012 hand-over ceremonies to be scrapped.
The teenager, who is believed to have been caught in a gang dispute, was taken to Whipps Cross hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His father, Charles Hendricks Snr, 55, of Leytonstone, today said: "Today it seems you're more likely to die if you're a teenager in London than a soldier in Afghanistan." He is urging Gordon Brown to do more to combat knife crime. "Something good has to come out of it. The teenagers must stop what they are doing. The Government finds ways to try to pressurise teenagers but it needs to be something stronger than what they are doing. The message is not strong enough," he said.
Mr Hendricks spoke out after the killing of 14-year-old army cadet Shaquille Smith in east London, who on 30 August became the 25th teenager to be killed in the capital.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with CJ's murder. He was remanded in custody until 8 December when he will appear at the Old Bailey. Two other boys, aged 16 and 17, remain in police custody. A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been bailed until later this month pending further enquiries.
Reader views (2)
Ban knives? hell you banned guns, look what happened. How about teaching your children morals. There I said it. Morals!
- John (Brit Exp Pat), Phoenix USA
The question stills remains why all this knife crime in London is committed by mostly blacks youths? It would seem there is a breakdown in family standards or parenting within the capital as the victims and / or the attackers are usually black.
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7
