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PLUMSTEAD: Mother of David Cooper speaks of murder by asylum seeker


A MOTHER whose son was beaten to death by a failed asylum seeker says the government should track immigrants when they come into the country.

Margaret Cooper was speaking for the first time since her son David was killed in November 2008.

The mother-of-three has attempted suicide twice since the death of her only son.

Mossab Belhocine was given a life sentence for murdering 28-year-old David.

Belhocine, aged 19, was told he must serve 24 years in jail for murder and 10 years for robbery, to run concurrently.

Ms Cooper said: “Life should mean life. He will come out when he is 40 years old and he can carry on.”

The 51-year-old said: “It has broken my heart and shattered it into pieces. David was my soul mate. We saw each other every day.”

She added: “If someone comes to this country they should be logged and followed really closely. The government should know exactly where they are.

“If they are illegal they should be sent back to their country.”

Belhocine met Mr Cooper in Soho before the pair travelled to his victim's flat in Calderwood Street, Woolwich.

During a trial at the Old Bailey, the court heard how the Algerian national kicked and beat his victim so hard an imprint of his trainer was left on Mr Cooper’s face.

The 19-year-old from Walthamstow said he had punched and kicked Mr Cooper to stop the sales assistant from raping him, but the court was told Belhocine had been planning a robbery.

He took a silver bracelet, a DVD player, a computer console, a television, a laptop and an Oyster card.

Ms Cooper, of Gilbourne Road, Plumstead, said: “I hate him for what he has done. I would like to go and visit him in prison and ask why he did this. He could have just robbed David and left.”

Mr Cooper would have been 30 last month. The family decorated his grave with banners and balloons to mark the occasion.

Comments(20)

porkpie says...
1:27pm Mon 8 Mar 10

She added: “If someone comes to this country they should be logged and followed really closely.... Yeah that's going to work & who's paying for all this ?

Tracy Cooper 19 says...
10:01pm Mon 8 Mar 10

Mr porkpie, you obviously haven't had your son/brother murdered. You say " who's paying for all this?" well I/YOU and everyone who works and pays taxes pay for him to eat, learn and keep fit in prison. So what a silly comment because i would rather pay taxes to prevent this from happening again and lets hope that you don't have to ever experience what we have gone through most my dead brother.

apak24 says...
12:31am Tue 9 Mar 10

I think you'll find he was talking about who is going to pay the cost to follow and watch every single asylum seeker that comes over here, and i have to agree with him.

porkpie says...
9:55am Tue 9 Mar 10

Tracy Cooper 19 wrote:
Mr porkpie, you obviously haven't had your son/brother murdered. You say " who's paying for all this?" well I/YOU and everyone who works and pays taxes pay for him to eat, learn and keep fit in prison. So what a silly comment because i would rather pay taxes to prevent this from happening again and lets hope that you don't have to ever experience what we have gone through most my dead brother.
I will give you an example: There are 300,000 to 400,000 Iraqis in this country since 2003. So you want that amount of people employed to follow them about. That's crazy and unworkable. Also only one group of people. What about the Polish, Africans, Asian, etc etc. You would have to employ over a million people. Get real. What your really saying is, if your not from this country your a criminal and to be feared .......... Me and my shadow.

mdf says...
6:36pm Tue 9 Mar 10

porkpie, I think what Ms Cooper is trying to say is that he was an illegal immigrant, therefore he should not of been in this country in the first place. So if the govenment (or who evers job it is), did what they should and removed him from this country when his visa expired, then the unforgivable act he did may have been prevented. The people who have the power should crack down on immigration. As we who are british citizens are feeling the affect of immigration.

porkpie says...
10:27am Wed 10 Mar 10

mdf wrote:
porkpie, I think what Ms Cooper is trying to say is that he was an illegal immigrant, therefore he should not of been in this country in the first place. So if the govenment (or who evers job it is), did what they should and removed him from this country when his visa expired, then the unforgivable act he did may have been prevented. The people who have the power should crack down on immigration. As we who are british citizens are feeling the affect of immigration.
If your visa runs out it's up to you to return yourself. There's no leaving party no limo to pick you up. No government officer waiting at your front door. I'm fully aware he was an illegal immigrant. My OP was about this statement "logged and followed really closely" They are logged if they come through the ports but if not how are you going to log and follow them. So the one 's that are logged are now followed closely would cost the tax pay billions. What they are asking for is not workable. So should we have check points on every street corner. My make immigrant wear something on their clothes like say………. A yellow star.

Mandy m says...
3:41pm Wed 10 Mar 10

This is not about taxes this is about that fact that once again this country has let someone down, if this country was run how it should be run then this evil scum would not have been here to take an innocent life, and destroy so many other lives with his disgusting actions, the imigration system in this country is the worst in the world and something needs to be done about it and now!!! and i think you will find that what miss cooper is saying that if this country and its imigration system was run properly then the death of her beloved son could have been prevented and in my eyes and the eyes of many others mr porkie untill you have been through what this poor family have been through you have no rights to comment as im sure if it was your son or brother or relative you would feel exactly the same!!!

porkpie says...
4:22pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Mandy m wrote:
This is not about taxes this is about that fact that once again this country has let someone down, if this country was run how it should be run then this evil scum would not have been here to take an innocent life, and destroy so many other lives with his disgusting actions, the imigration system in this country is the worst in the world and something needs to be done about it and now!!! and i think you will find that what miss cooper is saying that if this country and its imigration system was run properly then the death of her beloved son could have been prevented and in my eyes and the eyes of many others mr porkie untill you have been through what this poor family have been through you have no rights to comment as im sure if it was your son or brother or relative you would feel exactly the same!!!
Wind your neck in !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have every right to an opinion and a right to say it. Move on if you don't like it. Again I will point out that I was making a comment about this statement “If someone comes to this country they should be logged and followed really closely." Here's an idea a) Read my first post. b) Read the other post. You say " the immigration system in this country is the worst in the world " Facts & figures please. You say "something needs to be done about it and now!!!" Easy to say that but what ideas are you offering ......none! Don't tell me you also want someone to follow every immigrant to the shops, toilet, walk in the park etc etc. You say " I think you will find that what miss cooper is saying that if this country and its immigration system was run properly then the death of her beloved son could have been prevented and in my eyes and the eyes of many others mr porkie until you have been through what this poor family have been through you have no rights to comment as im sure if it was your son or brother or relative you would feel exactly the same!!!
"It will not matter what system you have in place some will always slip though the net. Drink driving laws don't stop people from doing it, do they. If someone is determined to do something illegal no laws are going to stop them are they ? But hey lets outcast a section of the human race that are rock bottom and have nothing in life. Come to England and be treated like a Jew in the second world war / or a black in South Africa. Tar and feather them all so we can see them walking down the street. Maybe put a big bell round there neck like a leper.

julie cooper1 says...
5:47pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Well Mr porkie your clearly for the illegal immigrants sucking the system dry!!, heres an idea did you stop to think about the millions the illegals are costing the country by just been here?? Erm......NO.
We are a small island surrounded by water yet we're unable to stop people smuggling themselves or disappearing in the country.
Ms Cooper is a devastated women who probabley isnt thinking about cost and taxes just about away to stop this from happening to another family.
Im fed up with all national's bleeding this country dry so if it means tar and feather's so be it, if your illegal and caught here then you should be shipped back regardless.
My greatgranparents didnt work hard for this country to go pot

porkpie says...
9:04pm Wed 10 Mar 10

julie cooper1 wrote:
Well Mr porkie your clearly for the illegal immigrants sucking the system dry!!, heres an idea did you stop to think about the millions the illegals are costing the country by just been here?? Erm......NO.
We are a small island surrounded by water yet we're unable to stop people smuggling themselves or disappearing in the country.
Ms Cooper is a devastated women who probabley isnt thinking about cost and taxes just about away to stop this from happening to another family.
Im fed up with all national's bleeding this country dry so if it means tar and feather's so be it, if your illegal and caught here then you should be shipped back regardless.
My greatgranparents didnt work hard for this country to go pot
First off I'm not for illegal anything.
You say - "illegal immigrants sucking the system dry" - How? They are not claiming they are illegal living under the radar so not to get caught. You say - "did you stop to think about the millions the illegal’s are costing the country by just been here?? Erm......NO. " Erm YES See my above point. You say - " We are a small island surrounded by water yet we're unable to stop people smuggling themselves or disappearing in the country". What do you suggest ? If illegal’s are determined to get in they will. Maybe Dad's army type patrols every 100 meters around the coast. You say - " if your illegal and caught here then you should be shipped back regardless". I agree. I have not said they should stay... have I ? You say - "My greatgranparents didnt work hard for this country to go pot". Funny you should bring this up. On one side of my family, my Great grandparents were immigrants. Their son born in this country, my grandfather was in the forces in WW2. Fighting for this country against people who didn't like a group of other people for what ever reasons.

Mandy m says...
9:50pm Wed 10 Mar 10

Did you not read that this scum was a FAILED asylum seeker so when he was refused asylum he should have been put on a plane and shipped out of this country, but he wasnt so therefore this country and its so called immigration system let david down!!!!

Tracy Cooper 19 says...
10:07pm Wed 10 Mar 10

DAVIDS SISTER IS MY GIRLFREIND,I FIND IT SICKENING THAT YOU MR PORKPIE HAVE ANYTHINK TO SAY ON THIS MATTER, YOU OBVIUSLY GET A FRILL OUT OF DOING THIS SORT OF THING AND BY WHAT YOU SOUND LIKE,YOUR A RIGHT SADDO WHO LIKES TO HOLD THESE DEBATES. WHEN ALL ANY OF US REALLY CARE ABOUT IS THAT DAVID WAS MERDERD.AND IS GONE FOREVER IN SUCH UNAMAGINABLE CERCUMSTANCES, THAT MAKES US SICK TO THE STOMACE EVRY DAY AND HURTS LIKE YOU COULD NEVER EMAGINE.AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THIS CRIME WAS COMMITED BY A ILLIGAL IMMAGRANT, WHO LEFT ALGERIA, HAS A FAMILY THAT LOVE HIM AND A MUM THAT OWNS 3 BUSINESS IN ALGERIA , TO COME TO ENGLAND AND HAVE 1000 POUND SENT TO HIM EVRY MONTH BY HIS MOTHER BACK HOME.JUST TO LIE IN BED ALL DAY ON DRUGS THEN WHEN IT GOT TO MIDNIGHT TRAVAL AROUND LONDON TO FIND VICTIMS THAT HE COULD ROB,ATTACK,AND KILL.ON OCATIONS CARRYING OUT THESE CRIMES WITH HIS KNOWN GANG OF ALGERIAN PICKPOCKET FRIENDS,OR BY HIS SELF .THIS ALGERIAN ATTACKED A WOMEN AND ROBED HER, STABED ANOTHER VICTIM IN THE ARM,MUGGED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FOR THERE PHONES,CAMARAS,AND MONEY,THEN KILLED DAVID JUST BECAUSE HE WANTED A COMPUTER,TV,LAPTOP,G
OLD, SILVER AND MONEY. HE'S BROTHER IS ALSO IN PRISON HERE FOR VOILENCE.MORE OF OUR TAXIS GOING ON LOVELY PEOPLE "A" PORKPIE.ID RATHER SPEND MY TAXIS ON HELPING THIS COUNTRY OR PEOPLE THAT DESERVE IT AND THAT JUST DONT HAPPEN IN THIS MEST UP COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.DAVIDS MUM BUILT UP THE COURAGE AFTER THIS TRUMATISING AND DEVERSTATING THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO HER SON AND SPOKE JUST ABOUT HOW SHE FELT,SHE DID NOT NO IT WOULD BE ON THE INTERNET FOR A DEBATE TO START,SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD SAY HOW SHE FELT AND THE PAPER WOULD BE READ BY PEOPLE AND THROWN IN THE BIN LIKE ALWAYS. AND THAT WOULD BE THAT.SHE JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW SHE FELT AND IT WOULD PROBLY OF BEEN BETTER THAT EVERYONE KEPT THERE OPINIONS TO THEMSELVES, THEN IT COULNDNT BRAKE HER HEART EVEN MORE THAN WHAT IT ALREADY IS, THAT SOMEONE WANTS TO HAVE A DEBATE,ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO KEEP TRACK OFF ILLIGAL IMAGRANTS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHINK BETTER TO DO WITH THEMSELVES. MARGARET YOU WAS COURAGES AND BRAVE AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUH,TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS.THEN YOU GET A SMART ARSE LIKE YOU PORKPIE VOICING YOUR OPINION (WHICH YES EVERONE AS A RIGHT TO HAVE AND YES EVRYONE HAS DIFFRENT OPINIONS AND WILL NOT AGREE ON EVRYTHINK) BUT ID WISH YOU WOULD KEEP YOURS TO YOURSELF, BECAUSE I COULDNT CARE LESS WHAT YOU THINK AND I WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU FACE TO FACE AND HEAR ALL YOUVE GOT TO SAY. SO GO AND DO WHAT YOU DO BEST AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER STORY TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS ON BECAUSE MAYBE SOMEONE OUT THERE MIGHT BE INTRESTED ON WHAT YOUVE GOT TO SAY BUT I DONT,AND YOUR REALLY BEGING TO AGGATATE ME, DAVIDS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WE NO EVRYONE HAS THERE OWN OPINONS, GOOD FOR YOU,BUT SHE WASNT ASKING FOR THAT SHE WAS JUST SAYING WHAT HAD HAPPEND TO HER SON AND IT IS NATURAL THAT SHE FEELS THIS WAY. I HAVE FRIEND AND FAMILY OF ALL DIFFERENT NATIONALIYS THEY WORK AND PAY THERE TAXIS AND DONT TAKE OUR COUNTRYS NICENESS FOR A WEEKNESS.PEOPLE LIKE YOU PORKPIE ARE WHY THINGS DONT GET SORTED OUT AND WHY WE DON'T HAVE RIGHTS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY. WERE ALL UP FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE THAT ACTULY DO TRY TO LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER AS ONE. WE KNOW NOT ALL FORIGNERS ARE CRIMINALS AND THAT IS DEFIENTLY NOT WHAT WAS BEING SAID,YOU SAID THAT. WE ARE A COUNTRY OF MIXED NATIONALITYS AND WE DO NOT MIND THIS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID BEFOR IVE GOT FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF ALL RACES AND DISABILITYS. BUT LETS GET BACK TO WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE,GOD BLESS YOU DAVID AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THE PAIN WILL NEVER GO YOU ARE SO SADLY MISSED AND ALWAYS WILL BE. AS FOR THE PORKPIES OF THIS WORLD HAVE YOUR RIGHTS TO OPINONS,BUT ITS NOT HARD TO TRY TO SHOW A LITTLE COMPATION, BECAUSE PERSONLY MYSELF IF I DIDNT AGREE WITH SOMETHINK UNDER THESE CERCUMSTACES THEN ID KEEP MY OPINON TO MYSELF I WOULD NEVER TRY TO SCRUTONICE A POOR MOTHER WHO AS LOST A SON TO A CARELESS MURDERER,AND GO ON LIKE THE ONLY THING THAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS WHAT DAVIDS MUM SAID ,ABOUT SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHINK . SO WIND YOUR NECK IN,AND GET A LIFE. YOUR COMMENTS ARE NOT APPRICIATED HERE I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. HAVE A HAPPY LIFE DEBATING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THINGS,AND I HOPE YOU GET A KICK OUT OF IT AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A BIGGER PERSON.AND MAKES YOUR LIFE INTRESTING. WHILE DAVIDS MUM SISTERS AND FAMILY LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD AND TRY TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT HAS HAPPEND TO DAVID AND TRY TO COPE WITH THIS TRAGIC,TRAGIC LOSS.

Mandy m says...
10:42pm Wed 10 Mar 10

HERE HERE WELL SAID. . . Rest in perfect peace david xxxxx

porkpie says...
10:19am Thu 11 Mar 10

You have ticked most on the boxes on the bingo card now. Reply in capital letters- check. Being called names- check. Have a opinion just don't want to hear it - check. Get a life - check. You get a kick out if it - check. At no point have I said it's ok for failed/ illegals to be in this country. I was not the one who got all agessive, I just pointed out how it was unworkable. If you don't like it reply in a adult way or turn the PC off. Simples

Orp Boy says...
11:26am Thu 11 Mar 10

If you dont like it vote BNP, only party that will sort this country out

emma. b X says...
11:44am Thu 11 Mar 10

RIP DAVID. always loved and never forgotton xxxxx

emma. b X says...
11:55am Thu 11 Mar 10

and as for you mr PORKPIE why dont you show some respect..... how about your UNWORKABLE,bitter and your a nasty peice of work.your ovisly not loved by anybody thats why you feel to sit there and make rude comments on things that have nothing to do with you! so my i suggest that if you cant make nice and appropriate comments you get off the pc and find yourself a life................
...

porkpie says...
2:01pm Thu 11 Mar 10

emma. b X wrote:
and as for you mr PORKPIE why dont you show some respect..... how about your UNWORKABLE,bitter and your a nasty peice of work.your ovisly not loved by anybody thats why you feel to sit there and make rude comments on things that have nothing to do with you! so my i suggest that if you cant make nice and appropriate comments you get off the pc and find yourself a life................ ...
Please point out the rude comments I have wriiten. You say - "things that have nothing to do with you!" This is a public website. You can have your say and I can have mine. As this has happened in the country I live and work in then I do have a say. Like everyone else. You say - "nice and appropriate comments you get off the pc and find yourself a life ". Pot - kettle don't you think. So because my opinions don't agree with yours they are not appropriate. Telling people to get a life, shows your mentality and intellectual skill..........

porkpie says...
2:31pm Thu 11 Mar 10

FOR THE RECORD : What happened to David was appalling & he was totally let down by the current system. I also hope the scumbag in prison rots.

GODUPERE2 says...
10:23pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Ladies and gents, Porkpie is not the enemy here. What was said is true , the following of all illegal imigrants is unworkable. However, and Porkpie has said this, it is a tragedy that this poor man was killed and I for one hope he comes to an unfortunate and painful end in his hellhole. This was never in doubt.


Margaret Cooper says David was her "soul mate" David Cooper would have been 30 last month Margaret with daughters Tracy and Mich Mr Cooper died after being "viciously assaulted"

Margaret Cooper says David was her "soul mate"

David Cooper would have been 30 last month

Margaret with daughters Tracy and Mich

Mr Cooper was battered to death in his Woolwich flat



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