Parents share 'devastating' image of stabbed business student in hospital bed after gang ambush

The parents of knife crime victim Jamel Boyce released the shocking image and urged witnesses to come forward
Stabbing victim: Jamel Boyce's parents have released a heart-breaking image of him in hospital
Met Police
Fiona Simpson10 March 2017
WEST END FINAL

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The parents of a business student left fighting for life after being stabbed today released a shocking image of him in intensive care in a bid to urge witnesses to come forward.

Jamel Boyce’s parents released the image of their 17-year-old son critically ill in hospital to show the "devastating impact that carrying and using a knife can have."

The St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College student was stabbed multiple times in the chest and legs when he was ambushed by a gang behind a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Clapham at 7.10pm on October 14.

Police believe the teenager was involved in a spat in a branch of McDonald's on Clapham High Street at 3pm the same day.

Pansy and Patrick Boyce today made an emotional plea for anyone with any information to speak to police and put a stop to “devastating knife crime.”

Jamel Boyce, 17, is fighting for life after being stabbed in the chest and legs

Mrs Boyce said: “"It is impossible to describe the pain our family is suffering at this time as our son lies in hospital fighting for his life.

"It breaks my heart to release this picture of Jamel but it shows plainly the devastating impact that carrying and using a knife can have.

Seven people – aged between 16 and 20 - have so far been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over the attack but police believe up to ten young men were in the area at the time of the stabbing.

"I would hate for any other mother or family to go through what we are going through right now; if you know what happened, and who did this to my son, please look into your conscience and speak to police."

Detective Sergeant Paul Graves said: "The incident in which Jamel received his injuries would have appeared innocuous at first glance and people may not have realised he had been stabbed.

"It may be that people have witnessed what appeared to be a minor scuffle and dismissed it as a trivial event.

"However, Jamel has received injuries that have left him critically ill and I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity at around 7pm that evening to come forward and speak to police.

"Our enquiries have also established that Jamel was also with a group of people in McDonald's earlier on 14 October.

"It appears there was a dispute involving this group and it is vital that anyone who was there and who can shed light on what happened comes forward and speak to us.”

All seven arrested on suspicion of attempted murder were bailed to return to a south London police station in January 2017 pending further enquiries.

Police are also looking to speak to anyone who helped give first aid to Jamel.

Anyone with any information or anyone who recognises the individuals in the images is asked to contact Lambeth CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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