Mother tells how attack ruined son's life
Thug spent less time in jail than his victim spent in hospital
I heard Rob was dead and wanted to die too
Knife attack victim tells of his anguish for Harry Potter star.
THE binge-drinking lout who smashed the skull of an innocent former Arsenal starlet was released from prison BEFORE his brain-damaged victim had even left hospital.
Thug Rocky Djelal, 28, is now free to roam the streets again while tragic Sam Kanu is trapped in a wheelchair, cannot talk, and needs 24-hour care for the rest of his life.
The horrific story of Sam's attack and the TWO YEARS he spent in hospital was told by his mum Linda Bangura, 41, to Home Secretary Alan Johnson at last week's News of the World Save Our Streets roadshow.
With 24-year-old Sam beside her, Linda sobbed: "My son has been given a life sentence - yet the man who did this to him gets to carry on his life normally. He's back on the streets living his life while we are left to pick up the pieces.
"Honest law-abiding families like us need more support from the forces of justice."
Sam was talent-spotted by Arsenal at the age of ten - but his football career was cut short by a knee injury in 2004.
Undeterred, he set up a youth football club and got a job as entertainments officer for the London Mayor.
But two years ago he popped into a local Costcutter store near London Bridge and was punched to the ground by Djelal - who had been on a two-day booze binge. Djelal received three years' jail for GBH but got early release in August.
Sam was in a coma for two months and spent two years in hospital before being discharged last month. His mum told Mr Johnson how her family, who now live in Bermondsey, South London, had been let down in several ways.
She explained: "We were subjected to daily intimidation from friends of Sam's attacker, including racial abuse.
"Yet the local authority said they could not rehouse us even though our flat was on the fifth floor, making it impossible for wheelchair access.
"We had to look for a flat ourselves in a different area. The rent is killing us and we have not received a penny in compensation or disability allowance."
Mr Johnson promised to take up the family's case, adding: "I've got absolutely no doubt we are doing much more with Victim Support than we were - but we are perhaps not doing enough."
Our roadshow was in Brighton - near to the Labour conference - and hosted by LBC radio star Nick Ferrari. On the panel were Sussex Police Chief Constable Martin Richards, Father John Wall of St Andrew's Church in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and campaigner Barry Mizen, whose son Jimmy, 16, was killed in 2008.
Alongside them was Wing Commander Sylvie Silver, who runs the Air Training Corps in London. She told the audience: "Young people need strong role models from the adult world and consistency.
Heart
"ATC tries to channel their adrenaline by giving them responsibility and excitement but supervising them too."
Listening was Grace Idowu, 49, whose 14-year-old son David was stabbed as he watched a football match in a park in Southwark, south-east London, last year.
Showing remarkable compassion she asked why his attacker - 16-year-old Elijah Doyoni, who was in care - hadn't received more support from the authorities. "He wasn't getting any education. He wasn't in any training. How many Elijahs are walking the streets?" She went on: "The knife went 9cm deep into my son's heart, he could not survive it.
"After ten days in hospital, the doctors cut off both his legs - I pleaded with them to save my boy, I just wanted him alive." But David died ten days later.
The Home Secretary told her about the Government's new laws to raise the school leaving age to 18. He added: "Sixteen is far too young to say you can go and disappear off the radar and turn up later as a crime statistic."
Stab victim Lee Palmer, 30, of Dover, then told how he was knifed in his eye and throat. He said: "I was stabbed for having the audacity to ask a neighbour to keep the noise down because it was keeping my son up.
"It took me two years to pressurise the police to actually take the case off the shelf and into court.
"I'm still fighting to get some sort of compensation and on top of that when they did finally take it to court he only got an 18-month sentence."
Mr Johnson told him: "It's unacceptable to put any crimes on the back shelf."
Then Brighton housing activist Stewart Gover - who is 64 and runs a bicycle shop - drew cheers as he argued against violent offenders being re-housed in peaceful communities.
He said: "If you put a ferocious dog in a pen full of gentle sheep you will not get a gentle dog but dead sheep. If you put violent people in a gentle community you'll destroy that community."
- OUR next Save Our Streets roadshow is on Wednesday at 7pm at Moss Side Powerhouse - close to the Conservative Party conference. Guests include Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, and former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan-Smith. To get tickets simply email us at saveourstreets@notw.co.uk
This article has 15 comments
Rarely is white on black and when it is they usually go by the surname of Dejal etc. Majority of crime is black on black. Considering they only make up a small amount of th epopulation is says a lot
Im sure many will find the above comment insulting. But statistics support it. And if you are realistic and think about it, you know it is true.
By Jane. Posted October 11 2009 at 9:44 PM.
After reading the above I am now SICK, an innocent man and family destroyed due to a stupid prethetic bald fool. I hope anybody reading this will agree. hope the family get their Justice and that the attacker gets more then he deseves. i hope the family and sam pull through and enjoy life.
By LEWIS GILL from Guernsey. Posted October 7 2009 at 5:52 PM.
I would like to say in this matter that you do need 2 for tango and I do find it very unbelievable that this happened as stated just out of the blue. I am not familiar with the actual case but I have spent time in prison with Rocky and I can assure you that he is not racist. Before anyone thinks how do I know I can tell you; I am gay. I do understand that it has been horrible and unfortunate for Sam and I wish he would not had this to happen to him but I do also wish that people would think and listen to both parties before judging others.
By jarno. Posted October 5 2009 at 11:06 PM.
Whilst i appreciate to see that Sam's tragic story has created a forum for open discussion, I am concerned that the majorty have again turned this into a 'Race' topic.
I am friends with Sam and his family, and can honestly say that his family do not see this as a race campaign - this is a justice campaign to ensure that victims receive the compensation and support they deserve, no matter what race / colour they are. There are stories in the newspapers every day that talk about violent crimes - these are from different races / skin colour and ethnicity.
The point to discuss is the system in place for dealing with people that commit these terrible crimes. Sam has only recently been in a position where he can return to his family however requires full time care - his family do not get the support they need, nor is it right that the person found guilty of his attack be allowed released early when they have been found guilty of the same crime previously. This is the injustice and needs to be looked at and looked at urgently!
By Vicki. Posted October 5 2009 at 1:43 PM.
i believe the colour of his skin is relevant as court statistics show that if the offender was black he would of received a longer sentence.when the courts in this country show fairness in all its sentencings race will always be a bone of contentment .
By sj. Posted October 4 2009 at 12:54 PM.
This is a terrible story, and very sad indeed. But I am also saddened to see such anti-white comments being posted on here. Yes, the offender happened to be white. And yes, he got a dreadfully short sentence, which is totally unfair. But why blame the white community? It's the police, the courts and the politicians who are letting us all down. The offender may well have got the same short sentence if his victim had been white. Who knows? It is also unfair to suggest that because the victim is black, and not white, that the media have treated the story of less importance. What about the Stephen Lawrence case? It is one of the most publicised cases the UK has ever seen. Give the white community a break, and don't blame the indigenous people for the short-falls which come from our police, our politicians and our courts.
By Warren. Posted October 4 2009 at 12:41 PM.
Further evidence of pathetic, manby-panby Britain where the politicians TALK a lot but actually DO very little of real worth where lawlessness and other crime is concerned and, Mr Brown and co., if you lose the next general election, this will be one of the major reasons why, and you'll rightly deserve it! Restore the death penalty and the birch - that'll largely, solve the problem and voters will feel much more satisfied!
By Frank. Posted October 4 2009 at 11:49 AM.
YES BRITAIN IS BROKEN,ESPECIALLY IF YR SKIN AINT WHITE.look at the statistics,black youths always get and serve longer sentances.when the eastend birds brother died the whole country was up in arms.this happens every day to people of other colours,when we complain we get told to go home to our country,if this is what these poeple face over and over,it will lead to civil unrest and unfortunately more extremeist will be born from our schools as the people of colour will be fed up with how they are treated.many of our black youth(born in britain)are turning muslims because they feel society is turning their backs on them.if you think im lying take a trip to brixton mosque,majority of worshippers are black and come from christian families,but the so called christians who supposed to love thy neighbour, wont listen to or accept their views for one simple reason,THEY ARE NOT WHITE.WILL IT END,NOT IN THIS LIFETIME ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BNP ARE WORKING ITS WAY ROUND THE COUNTRY.THE BNP ARE THE NEW HITLER AND OUR GOV DOESNT CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By TIOS. Posted October 4 2009 at 10:37 AM.
Charles makes a valid comment. Race shouldn't play a part but sadly it does. If the race and of the victim and attacker had been reversed the amount of comments posted would be increased 20 fold. Just have a look at the strictly come dancing article to see the point.
What people forget is that whether you are white, black, asian or other we are all in the same boat. Many people use these articles to spout their own agenda and views (myself included) but what I try not to do is blame everything and anything on immigration, not paying attention in school which results in not being able to get a job etc etc. Take responsibility for yourself.
This is a terrible story regardless of race - if it hd been a black guy doing it to a white guy I'd feel the same way.
One love from your friendly neighbourhood black man. Peace and have a blessed Sunday.
By Simon Ball. Posted October 4 2009 at 10:10 AM.
My heart goes out to this poor woman and her son. Rocky
you are ****
By Ninna. Posted October 4 2009 at 9:21 AM.
IM SORRY BUT CHARLES IS RIGHT..
I HADNT HEARD OF THIS STORY UNTIL TODAY,GUARANTEE IF THIS WAS A PROMISING WHITE FOOTBALLER/ACTOR WE WOULDNT HEAR THE LAST OF IT!
By cravena. Posted October 4 2009 at 9:14 AM.
The comment made by Charles who said "As long as the victim is a black man, it won't be regarded as broken Britain, u won't even see comments" is racist, untrue and, most importantly, unhelpful. Broken Britain is not defined by ethnicity. If we ALL returned to teaching ALL children the differences between right and wrong and understand the responsibilities that come with raising children then we wouldnt need to have to fight for justice for people like Sam, David and Lee. Parents and teachers need to re-introduce discipline in childrens lives and Charles needs to pick that chip off his shoulder that he seems to have regarding skin colour.
By Nicky. Posted October 4 2009 at 8:39 AM.
As long as the victim is a black man, it won't be regarded as broken Britain, u won't even see comments.
By charles. Posted October 4 2009 at 7:56 AM.
aweful, my thoughts are with this family, wat a complete discrace rocky should definatly get the death penalty!
By robyn. Posted October 4 2009 at 4:30 AM.
This is a terrible story. No justice. Broken Britain. I hope Grace gets some sort of help.
By Nesquick. Posted October 4 2009 at 1:14 AM.