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VICTIM: Jahmal Mason-Blair
TEARS: Pals mourn young Jahmal
TRAGIC: Where Jahmal died
A RISING young football star who had trials for Tottenham was brutally stabbed to death after being caught up in a "postcode" gang war.
Talented teenager Jahmal Mason-Blair, 17, bled to death after being slashed in the neck in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The promising winger - who also tried out for Reading and Charlton - is believed to have been the innocent victim of a savage street brawl between two gangs on a tough estate in east London.
Jahmal's distraught brother choked back the tears and told how the tragic youth paid the ultimate price for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Shaun, 30, wept: "I was woken up by my sister banging on the door. She told me something had happened to Jahmal - that he was dead. He was never involved in gangs. There wasn't a bad bone in his body. This is such a waste of life."
Police were called to the scene after neighbours reported seeing a street brawl involving around 20 men in Dalston.
Jahmal was later found bleeding to death in the street. Medics battled to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A terrified onlooker told us: "There was a group fighting and there was a smaller guy. I heard someone shout, 'Square Boy' - the name of another gang. It's all related to gangs and postcodes. You have the Ballance Boys from E9 and the Square Boys from E5."
Yesterday, Jahmal's mum Tetela, who lives in Florida, was flying home to be with her family but his dad, Wesley, was in hospital after suffering breathing difficulties.
Last night, floral tributes were being laid near the spot where Jahmal was killed.
Shaun described his younger brother - who had just finished his GCSEs - as fun-loving and sports-mad. He can be seen on YouTube showing off his footie skills - at one point rolling the ball from his head, kissing it, and deftly flicking it back into place.
"He was so popular," said Shaun. "He was going to college. But his life was football - there were big clubs looking at him."
Eddie Munnelly, 21, who coached Jahmal while he tried out at Spurs, said: "He was a good kid - always had a ball in his hands."
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This article has 7 comments
This attack has nothing to do with immigrants. This is about the gang culture in this country. No gangs or crime until labour came into power?! Ok, so explain how gangs are apparent in every other country in the world. there has always been gangs in this country, but things clearly just wern't as bad before. Gangs originated thousands of years ago, what do you think a tribe is?! You will never get rid of gangs, however, the willingness to use knives and guns is what needs to be targeted.
By M.. Posted May 31 2009 at 3:55 PM.
Bob and Larry,yes i do understand and know where you are coming from.The people from the UK need to be educated about the relations with other countries,a lot of people are a ignorant to the fact that the uk does not produce anything i.e fruits ,tobacco,oil,vegetables,gas and electricity only to mention a few.Most of these countries where the so called immigrants come from are self sufficient but they are suppressed by unfair trade.If these countries where to say they no longer want to do trade with the UK i tell you ,you will be buying a bag of potatoes for £5.Did you notice the price of petrol when these countris decided to put the price of the burrell up?.Who are the real natives of America?,of Australia?well not the british cause they migrated and took over those countries.I think the only solution is to live in harmony and start educating those who do not know.British people eat more bananas than the people from the banana republics
By ed.. Posted May 25 2009 at 12:53 AM.
in response to ed, the reason those migrating from the U.K are said to be going for a better life, is because in spain, usa, or australia, you have to stand on your own two feet and be TOTALLY self sufficient , you cannot sponge of the government as readily as the migrants do coming over here, we have had to have cutbacks in hospitals nhs budgets, policing budgets, council budgets etc , all because firstly our elected parliamentary candidates readily pilfer publics funds in fraudulent expenses and also, to keep several million illegal and legal migrants to our shores, whom havent the funding to do that move, i'd love to move to spain, but as i cannot afford to stay their unaided, i shall not be going, as i suspect do millions of other U.K residents . people love to shout racist, and point the finger, usually to deflect everyone scrutinising them !!
By bob.. Posted May 24 2009 at 9:33 AM.
Yes indeed Tony. The UK never had any gangs or crime before Labour came to power.The streets where clean & you could leave your front door open while you went to the shops.All the youth used to wear shirts & ties with short smart haircuts.
By Larry.. Posted May 24 2009 at 7:08 AM.
In response to Tony's comment,if you go back in history you will realise that migration has always been there without any stabbings.Thats a racist comment you made which is just the same as stabbing someone.Shame on you.How come when a british resident migrate to Spain,USA or Australia everyone says its for a better life.BUT when an African comes to these shores they are met with hatred.Its time to grow up....
By ed.. Posted May 24 2009 at 1:58 AM.
Blame labour policies of letting in every lowlife in the world
By tony.. Posted May 24 2009 at 12:38 AM.
another good kid dies life was just about to begin in the real world for him yet we failed to protect him because those that govern are to busy pilfering we need a new system parliament isnt working instead they have turned this once great nation into an open prison its always the good and innocent that suffer,shame on them .
By bambos .. Posted May 24 2009 at 12:08 AM.