Huran Jama murder – ‘Someone knows who killed this child
Detectives area appealing for witnesses to come forward six years after a Birmingham[1] teenager was murdered on a canal towpath. Harun Jama from Sparkhill[2] was stabbed to death close to the blue and white footbridge in Friars Wharf in Oxford on January 3, 2018. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 7.45pm and the 16-year-old was taken to hospital by ambulance.
But nothing could be done to save him. Despite several arrests being made following the stabbing, no-one has been prosecuted for the 16-year-old’s murder. Thames Valley Police today, January 8, renewed its appeal to bring the killer to justice.
Officers were at the scene in Friars Wharf on Wednesday, January 3, speaking to passers-by in a bid to jog memories. They force said it believed a number people witnessed the attack but had not come forward. Senior investigating officer Det Supt Andy Howard said: “Last Wednesday marked six years to the day that Harun needlessly died in this horrific and brutal attack.
Despite an extensive investigation, we have, as yet, been unable to prosecute anybody for his killing. “A key line of enquiry throughout our investigation has been the information from a number of witnesses who were present in Friars Wharf shortly before and after Harun was attacked. Since the outset, we have identified and spoken to a large number of people who were in the area that night,
“And it is clear to the investigation there are people who witnessed the attack on Harun, or hold significant information about what happened that night. While we have spoken to a large number of these people, we firmly believe there are still others who were present who we have yet to identify and speak to. “There may be many reasons why these people have not yet come forward, but I would again ask and encourage these people to please do so and tell the investigation team what they know.
Stab victim Harun Jama.
“I also firmly believe some individuals we have already spoken to may hold more information than they have so far divulged to us.
I appreciate why people may be reluctant to speak to police and provide information. “But I want to reassure them the information they provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence and we will discuss and address any concerns they may have so appropriate support measures can be put in place. “Harun’s family have had to endure six long years without their beloved son and brother, and I cannot begin to imagine what they have been going through knowing that no-one has yet been brought to account for his murder.
“I am appealing to the community in Oxford, as well as friends and associates of Harun, to look into their conscience and tell us what they know. I say again, Harun was just 16 when he was murdered. He was a child, who was brutally stabbed to death for no apparent reason.
Try BirminghamLive Premium for just GBP12 for 12 months[4] “I remain convinced that people in the community know who was responsible for this terrible crime, or will have crucial information that will enable us to bring them to justice. Harun’s family deserve the right to be able to face the future knowing the person who took their son away from them has been held to account for their callous actions.
“We are urging anybody with any information, no matter how significant or otherwise you think it may be, to please contact Thames Valley Police.
You can do so by making a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference number 43180002807.
“If you don’t want to speak directly with police, for 100 per cent anonymity, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
References
- ^ Birmingham (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Sparkhill (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ ‘Who has killed my son’ – Mum of murdered 16-year-old stabbed to death (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Try BirminghamLive Premium for just GBP12 for 12 months (www.birminghammail.co.uk)