Victim: Claudyo Jauad Lafayette, who was 17

THE family of a teenager stabbed to death at a birthday party returned to the spot where he was killed to appeal for witnesses in a “very tight-knit community” to help detectives crack the case.

Claudyo Jauad Lafayette, 17, died in Granville Road, Carlton Vale, a year ago on Monday.

Detectives marked the anniversary by offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. With no CCTV footage of the attack or witness evidence, the only real hope Claudyo’s family have of seeing justice rests on people from the neighbourhood coming forward to help the investigation.

Claudyo’s mother Yzakia Jauad said she had been made aware by community representatives in the area of entrenched fears about speaking up. “We know they are afraid,” she told Extra.

“I understand that. We are afraid too, really afraid. Even to be here. But Claudyo was not afraid to come out and help anybody. So I have got to do what my son would have done.” She added: “It’s my obligation as his mother to make sure we get justice for our son.”

The Extra understands that Claudyo was killed after rushing to help another teenager at the same birthday party in the community centre. The altercation spilled out into the street, where he was stabbed and died.
Police said the knife attack was not being treated as “gang-related” and are hoping the £20,000 reward – available for the next three months from Crimestoppers – will lead to a breakthrough.

Claudyo’s mother Yzakia Jauad and stepfather Nuno André Vieira

A shrine with candles and photos has been put up at the spot where he died, and a plaque fixed to the wall.

Yzakia Jauad said: “We were coming here every day, but we stopped coming because somebody was taking away everything we put here. The flowers. The candles. His pictures.”

She had spoken to a community organiser who had told her of concerns about speaking to police among the “very tight community” around Granville Road, and added: “But all I can say is the day it happened, everyone was out here. We know that people here know what happened.”

A permanent memorial is being put up inside the Granville centre and a tree is being planted nearby.

St Thomas Canterbury and Fulham Deacon Wayne O’Reilly, a mentor to Claudyo when he was a pupil at Our Lady of Hal Primary School, said: “Of course, my sympathies are with the victims.

“But no one raises a murderer. Why do people need to take someone’s life to settle an argument? It’s a total lack of value for life. It would ruin your life for ever.”

Since the murder five people have been arrested but not been charged and “remain on police bail”.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: “We have made significant progress over the last year. But there is key evidence we require. I’d like to speak to anyone who was there that night.”

Asked why it takes £20,000 to get people to come forward with information about a murder, he said: “If there are trust issues in the community, there are things we can do in relation to identity and anonymity regarding the information they provide.”

DCI Jolley dismissed any suggestion the delay in bringing charges against Claudyo’s killers was a police “resourcing issue” and added: “We have trawled the area for CCTV. I’m sure there are people out there who have seen the incident. I urge people to come forward. It is what Claudyo’s family deserve.”

Do you know who killed Claudyo? Call police via 101 quoting CAD 8929/14Jul, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.