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Knifed to death in street, teen father who feared that gang was after him
Benedict Moore-Bridger and Justin Davenport20 Nov 2009
A young father has been stabbed to death in north London while walking his dog.
The 19-year-old, named by friends as Michael McCarthy, was knifed as he stood on a corner in Stoke Newington last night and died at the scene, in Yoakley Road.
Police said he was killed after a dispute with two men who are thought to have sped off in a silver car into Church Street. There were also unconfirmed reports that Mr McCarthy had told his girlfriend a gang was pursuing him.
His friends today said Mr McCarthy had a baby boy, Casey, and was known as “Fox” because of his ginger hair.
Justine Henshaw-Brian, 17, said the teenager — whose parents are Irish — was never in trouble. “He was just walking his dog Missy, his black staffy. He was a lovely boy. He was innocent. He had a kid Casey who is not even one year old, and another on the way. He was never involved in any gang. He did his own thing,” she said.
A friend of his girlfriend said: “Michael apparently knew people were after him. I heard he told his girlfriend on Monday that he thought a gang were out to get him.
“I also heard on Monday he was walking to the bus stop with his girlfriend and he was being eyed up by a gang of lads he didn't recognise.
“He was really respectable and always said hello and always put his dog on a lead when I asked him to.”
Sojourner Lee Hixon, 16, said: “It is so sad. We have just come back from a memorial — so many people round this area are getting killed.”
Mr McCarthy is understood to have four sisters. Family friend John Garry, 31, said: “He was a good boy. He had worked as a scaffolder for a while and he didn't even drink very much. The mother is in bits. She can't even stand because she keeps breaking down all the time.”
Mr McCarthy's father, Martin, was understood to be talking to detectives today at the family home.
A worker in a nearby supermarket said a car pulled up alongside Mr McCarthy before he was attacked. Passers-by dialled 999 and emergency services arrived shortly before 11pm, but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Reader views (5)
20 years in prison may not be cushy BUT these scum will be free to live there lives once there sentences are served, michael will NEVER get to live his because of there actions.
I am a very close friend of michaels and he did not deserve this, so i personally think that the death sentence should be re-installed it may be the only thing to prevent teenagers from taking somebody elses life!!!
R.I.P Michael xx
- Jacks, london, 23/11/2009 18:17
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They should make prison a punishment not a holiday camp, no visits, no mixing with other inmates, no tv, ps3 etc etc just meals through the door a toilet, a mattress and 20 years of isolation to think about what you done. Our prisons are a joke
- Steve, London, 20/11/2009 16:45
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Cases like this are exactly why the death sentence should NOT be re-instated. The use of a death sentence as anything other than a deterrent is not justice, but revenge. If you want a system based on revenge, go live in Saudi Arabia.
Sadly Michael McCarthy is dead, and the death sentence cannot possibly act as a deterrent to prevent this crime. The most important thing right now is to catch whoever did this and get them off our streets. If you think 20 years in prison is cushy you clearly don't know what you're talking about.
- Nolan, Londonist, 20/11/2009 16:05
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Cases like this is why the death sentence should be re-instated. The scum that did this do not deserve to live the rest of their life getting the cushy prison life of 3 meals a day + PS3 gaming sessions. I do not want to pay tax to keep them in prison, but I do not mind paying tax for some new gallows!
- Dom, London, 20/11/2009 14:16
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It's grim up North London
- Miles, London, 20/11/2009 12:05
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