Author: Andrew Norfolk
Publication: The Times
Date: February 21, 2002
An Asian schoolboy was brutally
beaten to death and his naked body set alight in a north-west London park.
The body of the Asian youngster, thought to be aged between 12 and 14,
was discovered at the foot of a tree a few yards from a playground popular
with children. Detectives have few clues to the identity of the slightly-built
boy and appealed for help yesterday from members of the Asian community
in suburban Kingsbury, near Wembley.
Detective Superintendent Nigel Mawer,
of the Serious Crime Group, said the boy had suffered "an horrendous attack"
less than 50 yards from a busy main road.
Police said yesterday that they
were keeping an open mind about what prompted the murder and have not yet
ruled out racial, sexual or drugs-linked motives, although they say there
are no indications of any ritual involvement in the killing.
The boy's body was found in a clearing
at the foot of a towering spruce tree at 8.30 am on Tuesday by a passer-by
in Roe Green Park.
He had been given a savage beating
to his face and upper body and was stripped naked, then set alight, using
an accelerant, which caused extensive burns to almost his entire body.
Police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, but believe
at this stage that the cause of death was the serious head injuries. No
weapon has yet been found.
The large open space is often used
as a short cut by people walking from Roe Green to the busy Kingsbury Road
and its Tube station near by.
It is thought that the murder happened
some time after dark on Monday evening and before daybreak on Tuesday.
Officers believe the beating probably
happened where the body was found and are certain that he was set alight
at the scene. They hope passing motorists may have seen the flames. Mr
Mawer said initial indications suggested that the victim was between 12
and 14, although he could be as old as 16. He was 5 ft 2 in, weighed 7
stones and was slim. He had short, straight black hair, shaved at the back
but short and spiky at the front.
Local CCTV footage is being examined,
but attempts to identify him are being hampered by the half-term school
holiday. The park was cordoned off yesterday.
Police say there have been no reports
of racial tension in the area.
