Detectives have searched several addresses looking for the killer of a
16-year-old who bled to death in his brother’s arms at the weekend after
suffering an horrific neck injury.
Officers know who they want to question in connection with the murder of Jimmy
Mizen, who died after being attacked in a bakery in Lee, southeast London on
Saturday morning.
Jimmy’s mother, Margaret, 55, said that is was probable that her family knew
the killer. The well-liked teenager had celebrated his birthday the day
before the killing and should have been at work with his father, Barry, at
his shoe repair shop, but had been given him the day off as a treat.
Jimmy, was with his brother Harry, 18, when he was killed. He was hit in the
neck with a shard of glass after an unprovoked argument with another youth
at the Three Cooks bakery.
The youth, who police described as “intent on violence” asked Jimmy outside
for a fight but he refused. The aggressor then smashed in the glass door of
the bakery, picked up an advertising board and started waving it around. A
fight started and Jimmy’s throat was cut with glass.
Another brother, Tommy, was called to the Three Cooks bakery and cradled his
brother as he died.
Jimmy, a 6ft 4in member of Sidcup Rugby Club, had been out with his brother to
buy his first lottery ticket when he was attacked.
It is not clear how the argument started but reports suggest that Jimmy was
trying to placate another youngster who had been asked to leave the shop.
Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, the senior investigation officer, said:
“This is another tragic incident where a young victim has lost his life, and
our sympathies are with his family and friends.
"There was an argument between Jimmy and the suspect, following which
Jimmy was assaulted and he sustained serious neck injuries.
"The suspect, described as a male youth, made off from the scene up Burnt
Ash Hill towards Burnt Ash Lane. I would urge anyone who was in and around
the Burnt Ash Hill area at the time of the incident to call us at our
incident room with any information they may have."
Police were today carrying out a fingertip search of the sealed-off area
outside the bakery and were also conducting house-to-house inquiries.
This morning 300 people joined Jimmy’s parents plus his six brothers and two
sisters for Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes church just two hundred yards from
where the youngster died.
HIs father Barry, 56, is the vice-chairman of governors at Jimmy’s school, St
Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive in Eltham.
After a two-minute silence at the church, where Jimmy had once been an altar
boy and had been baptised, scores of youngsters left in the bright sunshine
with tears streaming down their faces..
One of the altar boys for the Mass was Jimmy’s eight-year-old brother George.
Tributes flowed for Jimmy from family and friends. Mr Mizen said described his
son as a “gorgeous and loving boy” with a sense of decency. “We loved him
and he loved us back.
"He was very proud of his family. he had six brothers and idolised each
one of them. I want to get the right image of Jimmy across to you.
“We are a close family and we tried to bring him up with good values. he was
an uncomplicated young fella who was not afraid of hugs.”
He said that his son had been doing work experience for Southwark Council in
their housing department and had done so well that they had created an
apprenticeship for him.
He added: “Jimmy usually comes to work with me on a Saturday, fixing shoes and
cutting keys but he had the day off for his birthday.
Danny, 30, a brother, said: “Jimmy was the life and soul of the family.
“If you asked any of the brothers and sisters I’m sure they would say Jimmy
was their favourite. He was just a good guy, really enthusiastic in
everything he did and always had time for all of us.”
Jimmy’s grandmother told how her grandson had rung her the night before his
death to say thank-you for his birthday present.
“He really was a smashing boy. All the family are lovely and there has not
been one bit of trouble from any of the brothers.”
