Jamel Boyce: Business student stabbed by gang of thugs 'will never recover'

Fiona Simpson10 March 2017
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A "shy and loving" business student who was left critically injured after being stabbed by a gang of teenagers will never make a full recovery, police believe.

Jamel Boyce, 17, was stabbed multiple times in the heart and legs when he was ambushed by the gang behind a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Clapham, south London, at 7.10pm on October 14 last year.

The teenager, who studied at St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College, lost the majority of his brain function following the attack and has not regained consciousness since, police revealed.

He has now been transferred to a special care unit, leaving his parents Pansy and Patrick Boyce faced with “immeasurable grief over losing the boy they knew”.

Stabbing victim: Jamel Boyce's parents have released a heart-breaking image of him in hospital
Met Police

A harrowing image released by his family show Jamel in a hospital bed, forced to breathe through a tube.

Detectives retraced Jamel’s steps leading up to the brutal stabbing on Friday and made a fresh appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Police believe the attack, during which “the teenage had his future ripped from him” stemmed from a “minor argument” at a branch of McDonald’s on Clapham High Street around 3pm the same day.

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

He is then believed to have been involved in a fight with a group of four thugs in a car park opposite the Sainsbury’s store, in Triangle Place, later the same evening.

In a transcript of a 999 call, released by police on Friday, a caller tells police that the gang were “harassing a boy”.

The caller then says: “A boy (Jamel) is on the floor” and adds that he “looks hurt”.

The group are believed to have fled towards Nelson's Row, Clapham Park Road or Clapham High Street following the attack.

In an emotional appeal for witnesses Mrs Boyce said: “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 of Lambeth CID said: "On October 14 last year, a teenager had his future ripped away from him. He was brutally stabbed following what we believe was a minor argument.

"Jamel was left fighting for his life and now only a fraction of his brain is functioning, barely enough to keep his heart beating. He is not conscious, he can't walk, he can't speak and is extremely unlikely to make any significant recovery.

"We need your help. Jamel's condition is not improving and he will never have any quality of life. His family's grief after losing the boy they knew is immeasurable.

"If you called 999 initially or you thought your information wasn't significant, call us now; every bit of information is vital. Contact us today and help bring the people who did this to justice.

"From speaking to witnesses, it appears that the incident would have appeared innocuous at first glance and people may not have realised he had been stabbed.”

In mid-October, three 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and bailed pending further enquires to a date in early-April.

Two 20-year-old men and a 17-year-old boy were also arrested and later released with no further action.

Anyone with any information or anyone who recognises the individual in the image is asked to contact Lambeth CID on 07785 774447 or 101.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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