Tashaûn Aird was killed in cold blood by three fellow teenagers. Those who killed him have now been tried, convicted – and sentenced to lengthy jail sentences. After the sentencing, his grieving family released the following statement, via the police, which shows the impact this crime has had on their lives.
In a statement, Tashaûn’s family said: “Our beautiful and talented Tashaûn was just 15 years old when he was attacked and murdered, in what was a senseless and unprovoked attack on him. “There can be no comfort to us other than these individuals being off the streets and out of harm’s way. “However, no words could ever describe the pain, numbness and sheer anguish that we as a family have felt since he was taken away from us so suddenly on 1 May. “No family should be put through what we have experienced these past months, you hear about knife crime and never expect it to be one of your own. Our family who were once a family of four are now a family of three, which leaves our daughter, Tashoya, without her baby brother and us without the final piece to our family puzzle. “Our mother, and our father, without their son, their handbag. Our child was hunted down and brutally attacked, the actions of those responsible for his killing were cowardly as he was defenceless to it, he did not harm anybody, nor did he warrant this to happen to him. No family would ever expect their loved one not to return home. “Life will never be the same again for us and no sentence for taking our Prince’s life could ever be enough. “Collectively, as a family we feel damaged beyond repair due to Tashaûn’s murder.”
•Anyone who has information about a crime involving violence and/or knives can pass it on to the police on Fearless.Org, which is part of the Crimestoppers charity. The Fearless site automatically over-writes your IP address, so any information you provide remains anonymous. Got to Fearless.Org here: Fearless.Org
•If you need help because you are involved with knife crime, or if you are trying to support someone else who is involved, you can go to: Knifefree LondonNeedsYou Alive
●Read more about this story: Three teens jailed for Hackney teen stabbing
●Read more about it: Police seek witnesses to stabbing in Chingford Hackney man jailed for burglary