CHIGWELL: Boy convicted of killing Hainault teenager (From This Is Local London)

Boy convicted of murdering Jack Large in Chigwell

8:42am Friday 12th December 2008 in News

A schoolboy has been convicted of killing Jack Large.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of manslaughter at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Thursday).

Jack, 14, was knifed to death on the Limes Farm estate, in Chigwell, in November last year, after he became involved in an argument with the 15-year-old and another 14-year-old boy who has pleaded guilty to one count of possessing of an offensive weapon.

The jury had heard that the knife used to kill Jack was used with such force that it became embedded in his head.

Jack, of Yeoman Way, in Hainault, was attacked outside the unmanned police station in Limes Avenue shortly before 11pm on November 30, 2007, dying two days later in the Royal London Hospital.

The two suspects, both from Chigwell, and then aged 15 and 14, were arrested and each charged with one count of murder. They had been on trial since Monday, October 27.

Jack’s mother Julie Maddison, 45, thanked Essex Police for their support during the trial.

She said: “My son Jack was part of a very loving family and everyone is still finding it difficult to get to grips with what happened a year ago.

“One of Jack’s brothers is still very much affected by the death. He regularly attends the grave with fresh flowers and pauses to reflect on the good times they had together.

“Jack had loads of friends and they too have been left with a void in their lives. I would like to thank all of them for their support and kind words throughout the past year or so. They showed unity at the hospital where Jack died and they are again here today throughout the court case.

“Jack was not a gang member and, although no saint, he was trying to overcome his petty criminal past and forge ahead with a career. He was looking forward to becoming a chef and cooked a mean English breakfast.

“My fondest memory of Jack was when we were on a family holiday in Devon in August 2005 when he went surfing for the first time. He was always one for the girls, hanging out and being pictured with the prettiest.

Speaking outside Chelmsford Crown Court, senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent John Quinton, said the verdict would offer little consolation Mrs Maddison.

He said: “Jack is the youngest stabbing victim to be killed in Essex Police history and the saddest fact from this case is that he had his whole life ahead of him and it was cut short by two fellow teenagers.

“Julie did her best to guide her son through life. All parents must face up to their responsibilities as guardians. They must challenge their children; find out who they socialise with, find out where they are during the evenings and not allow their young teenage sons and daughters to be out on the streets late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

“Jack’s death was witnessed by several children and they will have to live with the trauma for the remainder of their lives. This should not be the case; they should not have been there in the first place.

“We would like to thank the residents on the Limes Farm estate for their co-operation from the very beginning through to this day and beyond.

“They themselves have shown that neighbourhood policing works, having built up an excellent rapport with the police officers and PCSOs who patrol the estate; so much so, that many are on first-name terms with them. We continue to extend our sympathies to Julie and her family.”

Mrs Maddison said: "I would like to echo the police’s call for parents and teenagers to take a stance against knife crime and stop this seemingly never-ending misery that is being experienced by mothers like me up and down England. Alcohol abuse is the cause of today’s breakdown in society and a rise in crime. Children must stop drinking the stuff and parents should stop turning a blind eye to it.

"I would like to thank Essex Police for their unswerving support from the very beginning. Despite Jack’s criminal past, they have never once showed anything but a caring, sharing attitude as well as devotion and determination in bringing my son’s killers to justice. Both Mr Quinton, the senior investigating officer, and Terry, my family liaison officer, have shown my family and I respect, and I thank them for this.”

Divisional commander Chief Superintendent Tim Stokes said: “At the time of Jack’s murder, there was a great deal of shock throughout the community. My officers and I, especially those from the local neighbourhood policing team, continue to offer our sympathies to Julie and her family.

“We hope that today’s verdict sends a strong message to those criminals on the Limes Farm estate who continue to carry knives and other offensive weapons. If we don’t arrest you first, then you could end up being a needless victim of knife crime.”

The 16-year-old boy has been remanded into secure accommodation while the 14-year-old boy has been released on bail prior to their sentencing in January 2009. A date has yet to be fixed.