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Stop the killings, says family in 'Scarface' case
Danny Brierley11 Feb 2009
A family has called on ministers to do more to stop teenage killings after a gang member known as "Scarface" was convicted of murdering their son.
Hours after Richard Harrison-Allen, 20, was found guilty of killing Etem Celebi, his mother, Hayriye, told how her life had fallen apart.
Etem was killed when Harrison-Allen, a member of the "Stamford Hill Gang", opened fire on him and four of his friends on the Smalley Close estate in Stoke Newington on 14 November 2007. The 17-year-old victim was a member of a rival gang called "Smalley Close Man Dem Gang".
An original Old Bailey trial failed to reach a verdict but Harrison-Allen was found guilty of murder at a retrial at Luton crown court. His co-accused, Sheldon "Sweets" Small, then 17, was cleared of murder.
After the verdict Mrs Celebi, 47, told the Standard: "Our life is over. I cannot go out. I cannot look at other teenagers without crying. The Government always finds money to spend on things like public transport. They should be spending more on our young people, to offer them more opportunities."
Etem, a childhood friend of XFactor winner Leona Lewis, was a semi-professional footballer who dreamed of joining Arsenal. His brother, Firat, a psychology student, said the murder "has ruined my life".
Harrison-Allen, of Hackney, was remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date.
Reader views (4)
I actually went to school with both of these boys. Ricard was in my tutor class and he was always a horrible character. Etem was younger than me, but i still spoke to him and he was a nice boy, funny and very popular. Its so wierd to think i have grown up around such violence, losing people at such young ages. My heart is with Etems family. Richard deserves what ever he gets.
- Anonymous, London, UK, 15/02/2009 00:20
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I was surprised to see this guy's face in the news. When I was 12 years old (nearly ten years ago) this guy would terrorise kids in my area (Stoke Newington) when we would hang out and play in the streets. He mugged about 4 people I knew at knife point and this is when he was 11 years old. He would ride around on his BMX bike with his friends from his estate and steal walkmans, money etc. He is an evil evil lad, my only regret is that I was too afraid to telk to the police at the time. Had I done so, he might not have turned into a murderer.
- Anon, London, 14/02/2009 23:50
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Yet again police photographers allow out another defiant pose for the media to circulate. Appallingly arrogant message for every insecure, psychologically disturbed youngster to emulate. Way to go!
- Simon Caleb, London, England, 11/02/2009 16:35
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This government is only concerned with wealth creation as if thats a panacea for all ills, if bankers and middle class white people were to start killing eatch other i bet there would soon be a responce from the government.
- Kev, London-UK, 11/02/2009 13:59
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