‘A wall of fear’: Ex-detectives reveal why some murder cases are never solved
The mother of a teenager who was shot dead in the street says her hopes are fading that her son’s killer will ever be caught – and believes police have “prioritised” other murder cases.
Cherie Nedd told Sky News that her 18-year-old son Ethan Nedd-Bruce “was just coming home” when he was attacked outside a fried chicken shop in southeast London almost three years ago.
Two men arrested on suspicion of murder were later released under investigation – and Ms Nedd has voiced frustration at the “wall of silence” surrounding Ethan’s death.
It is nearly three years since Ethan Nedd-Bruce was shot dead in Greenwich, southeast London. Pic: Cherie Nedd
It comes as the brother of a 20-year-old man who was fatally shot in west London voiced fears that his killer may strike again.
No one has been charged over the murder of Alexander Kareem who was gunned down in June last year, in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.
While the Metropolitan Police are actively investigating both unconnected killings, two former detectives have spoken to Sky News about the problems that can arise in murder investigations that mean some culprits never face justice.
• The unsolved murder of Ethan Nedd-Bruce
Ethan was shot dead in October 2018 but no one has been charged with murder. Pic: Cherie Nedd
As she prepares to mark the third anniversary of Ethan’s death, Ms Nedd remembers the moment police informed her that her son had been shot dead.
“It felt like the blood had left my body,” she tells Sky News.
“My knees went weak and I fell to the floor. I was in absolute shock.”
Nearly three years on, Ms Nedd says there has been “no progress” in the investigation.
“For us, it’s been a really painful time,” she says. “I live with that pain every day.
“I feel other cases are prioritised over it.
“There are other murders being solved after Ethan.
“The hope is diminishing.”
Cherie Nedd says she lives with ‘pain every day’ over her son’s murder: Pic: Cherie Nedd
• ‘Young black boys in London – nobody sees their lives as important’
Ethan was killed in Greenwich on 22 October 2018 after he was involved in an altercation with a gang of men who then chased him on a motorbike and in a silver Ford Kuga car.
The Met Police described the shooting as a “targeted attack linked to a number of other incidents in the area between two criminal groups”.
However Ms Nedd insists her son was in the “wrong place, at the wrong time”, having recently moved to the area from north London.
She says there was “no retaliation” after he was killed which proves he was not involved in gangs.
Two men, aged 24 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of murder last year but were later released under investigation.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed that a potential key witness whose image they released last year has not yet been tracked down.
Police released this image of a potential key witness last year but he has yet to be tracked down. Pic: Met Police
A £20,000 reward is now on offer for information that leads to the conviction of Ethan’s killer.
Ms Nedd says she was told by police there were “no further updates” when she last received information on the progress of the investigation six weeks ago.
“It’s completely frustrating because I know somebody knows something,” she adds.
“More has to be done to get that information and break that wall of silence.”
Ms Nedd says the murder of Sarah Everard in March was quickly solved “and a lot of people got behind that”.
“I don’t see that support for other victims when they’re of a particular demographic, which is really sad,” she adds.
Ms Nedd says she has faced a ‘wall of silence’ over Ethan’s murder: Pic: Cherie Nedd
“Young black boys in London – nobody sees their lives as important.
“It tends to be the cases of young black boys, sadly, where the perpetrators are not found.
“Why is that? That’s the question we have to ask.
“People are not up in arms about it.”
• The unsolved murder of Alexander Kareem
Alexander Kareem was murdered as he made his way to a friend’s house in Shepherd’s Bush on 8 June 2020.
It is thought a white Range Rover drove past the 20-year-old and shots were fired from it, with the vehicle later found burned out in Ealing, west London.
Alexander Kareem was shot dead in west London in June 2020
Alexander’s sister Khafi (left) and mother Victoria during his burial in July
Nine people – including a 16-year-old boy – were arrested over the murder but five were released under investigation and four were freed with no further action.
Alexander’s brother Kabir has now voiced concerns that his brother’s killer remains at large and could murder someone else.
“We need people to come forward,” he tells Sky News.
“There’s a sense of frustration and anger knowing somebody could do that and they’re still out there.
“At the same time, there’s worry that they could do it to someone else.
No one has been charged over Alexander’s murder
“My brother wasn’t the intended target. That just means the target is still out there. They’ll probably go out there to try to kill someone else.
“It’s frustrating and it makes me angry, in a personal sense, as I want justice for my brother.
“You also know there’s someone out there who is willing and able to commit dangerous crimes.”
Mr Kareem says it is “in the back of my mind” that he may unwittingly come into contact with his brother’s killer.
“Because the case has been online and on TV, they’ll probably know who I am – but I won’t know who they are,” he says.
“I’m not going to live my life worried I might bump into people.”
Alexander’s family say the want ‘justice’ over his murder. Pic: Kabir Kareem
More than a year after his brother’s death, Mr Kareem says he is still “hopeful” that the killer will be caught.
“Whether that will happen is a whole different story,” he adds.
• How can murders go unsolved?
Former Met Police detective Clive Driscoll, who worked as a senior investigator on the Stephen Lawrence case, says a high proportion of murder cases are solved but they can falter for “a variety of reasons”.
“It could be that witnesses are scared to come forward,” the former detective chief inspector tells Sky News.
“I remember in one of my cases they said it was ‘a wall of silence’. It was never a wall of silence, it was a wall of fear.
“People were scared to come forward.”
Mr Driscoll says cases may involve a lack of CCTV evidence or there could be poor quality footage that means officers cannot identify suspects.
Alexander Kareem was shot dead in Shepherd’s Bush, west London
Meanwhile, a case where the murder weapon is not recovered means forensic evidence is missing, he adds.
“There are many, many reasons why a murder investigation might stall,” Mr Driscoll says.
“Gun crime can be difficult purely because of the fear factor.
“Usually gun crime is connected to serious organised crime. The witnesses could be reluctant to become involved.”
• Which murders are more likely to go unsolved?
Stuart Gibbon, a former Met detective, says police never “completely” close an unsolved murder case and it gets “periodically reviewed”.
He tells Sky News: “There are actually quite a lot of unsolved cases out there – not so many murders, but unsolved cases where police go through all their lines of inquiry and draw a blank for one reason or another.
“The longer it goes on without being able to identify those responsible, the harder it becomes and the less likelihood there is that you are going to be detected.”
Mr Gibbon says CCTV evidence alone is often not enough to arrest and charge murder suspects.
“Unless you can identify those people or tie it in with other evidence, on its own it’s not always enough,” the former senior investigating officer adds.
“It’s fair to say anything that involves gangs – where a group of people have been involved and the community knows what happened… but for one reason or another, they are not willing to share that with the police – they are the most challenging.”
However Mr Gibbon believes it is more difficult than ever before for criminals to get away with murder.
“The rate now is higher than it’s ever been in terms of arrests, detention and I would say convictions as well,” he says.
“The investigations are generally very, very thorough.
“If you can find the motive, then the person responsible often comes off the back of that.”
• What have the Metropolitan Police said?
In relation to Ethan’s murder, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts continue to remain with Ethan’s family who we know are heartbroken following the loss of their son.
“We understand that they need answers and we too are still searching for the truth as to what happened on the evening of 22 October 2018.
“We have not given up – this remains an active murder investigation and we would again ask anyone who may be able to assist us to come forward.”
The Met Police told Sky News it is currently actively investigating 280 murders dating back to 1974.
A further 245 cases of homicide – meaning murders or manslaughters – remain open but inactive because all reasonable current lines of inquiry have been investigated, the force added.
“We never close a murder investigation and will review any new information received in relation to these,” a Met Police spokeswoman said.
Last year, the force said it investigated 126 homicides and charges were brought in 121 of those cases.
“Our specialist teams continue to investigate the five remaining cases,” the spokeswoman added.
An MP has told Sky News she was attacked online by the Tate brothers after she participated in a debate in the House of Commons about violence against women.
The controversial duo, Andrew and Tristan Tate, are facing charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK – all of which they deny.
But they are still very active online, and according to Sorcha Eastwood, the MP for Lagan Valley, are targeting her.
In a document seen by Sky News, Tristan Tate has highlighted one of the MP’s tweets and writes in private correspondence: “MP, nice target, can we sue her?”
Sorcha Eastwood says at first she thought the replies were from parody accounts and not the Tate brothers.
Her original tweet was about Elon Musk, not the Tate brothers. The MP said Musk’s tweets should be looked at through a counter-extremism lens.
“I was really concerned, I was concerned because to me that is a direct attack for want of a better phrase on me serving my constituents.
“I couldn’t believe that they decided to pick this random Northern Irish MP. The fact that it wasn’t even about them. This is something I didn’t go looking for.
“I think from my perspective, it’s a very, very sinister attempt to shut down important voices in public life, political discourse.”
It was only when she started noticing an uptick in abuse from other accounts she realised she had encountered some of the brothers’ followers.
“I had rape threats. I had death threats. I had people saying I should be hung from a lamppost. I had people saying I should be chopped into liver. I also had people then who were like we’ll waste 15 minutes raping Sorcha Eastwood.”
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against Sorcha Eastwood
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against her.
They said: “Ms Eastwood has a distorted view regarding social media if she believes one is required to ‘invite or ask’ people to interact.
“Tristan Tate is entitled to his view in relation to her tweet regarding Elon Musk.”
The self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have both been charged with human trafficking, face allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering in Romania.
There is also a European arrest warrant for them as they are facing separate, unrelated charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK. They deny all charges.
Ms Eastwood now worries for others who don’t have a platform like her and who may not feel like they can speak out.
“If this is what has happened to me I have absolutely no doubt that this has happened to others where they have been attempted to be silenced.”
Keir Starmer has previously commented on the Tate brothers’ case in the Commons saying it is “a live issue”, but adding that “the principle is absolutely clear” in relation to whether the brothers should face justice.
Sorcha Eastwood says she wants to see the government do much more to protect against abuse online.
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Tate brothers deny wrongdoing
“I think ultimately the government has taken the wrong course on this. They need to step up.
“This should be an issue of national security as far as the radicalisation of young people online. It should be an issue in terms of the levels of misinformation, disinformation and the lack of trust that is had in our politics right across the UK and Europe.
“I want the government to help me, help every other person to crack down on this and get serious about it. And the only way they’ll be able to do that, is by hitting these tech companies in the only language which they understand, which is money and via robust legislation.”
A government spokesperson said: “Violence against women and girls is a scourge on our society which is why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes within a decade.
“Tackling illegal abuse both online and offline is central to supporting victims and preventing harm in our communities and we will not hesitate to strengthen laws to deliver this mission.
“Last month, parts of the Online Safety Act came into force meaning companies must take action to protect users from illegal material including extreme sexual violence.
“Further protections from this summer will require platforms to protect children from harmful, misogynistic, and violent content.”
UK
‘It’s just nasty’: Birmingham residents ‘overwhelmed’ by foul stench and massive rats as bins strike rumbles on
In parts of Birmingham, the stench is overwhelming – enough to make you heave.
At a block of flats in Highgate, in Birmingham city centre, we find a mountain of bin liners full of rubbish spewing out of the cavernous bin store, which is normally locked.
Mickel comes out to speak to us, while all around bin liners lie open, with the contents for all to see, including used nappies and rotting food.
Mickel says they’ve had ‘foxes and rats, literally the size of cats’
Outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate, bin liners lie open, spewing out rubbish
We both find it hard to keep talking amid the awful smell.
“We’ve had foxes and rats, literally the size of cats, flies, it’s just nasty, something needs to be done,” he says.
Chris says the situation is ‘overwhelming’ as she’s ‘terrified of rats’
Around the corner, I meet Chris, in her dressing gown, popping the bins into her bin store beneath her flat before work.
She unlocks it, and although it isn’t bursting out on to the street yet, it is getting full.
She says the situation is “overwhelming” as she’s “terrified of rats”. But, even so, she has sympathy for the striking bin workers.
“It’s not an easy job; they must have a heart of gold to do that job,” she says.
“Pay them whatever they need, they deserve it.”
Striking bin workers at Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre
There’s an awful smell coming from a mountain of bin liners outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate
At Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre, Brigette has pulled up alongside picketing workers. The back seat of her car is full of rubbish.
She apologises for the terrible waft, mixed with air freshener.
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“It’s very pungent, isn’t it? Not nice,” she admits.
“It’s unfortunate, I have some sympathies for all the parties, but, equally, we have a duty of care to stay clean and tidy.”
She says she has her rubbish and that of her elderly aunt and plans to make weekly trips to the tip until a resolution in this pay dispute between the council and the Unite union is found.
UK
‘US is our closest ally’, Jonathan Reynolds says in reaction to Trump tariffs – but ‘nothing off the table’
The US is “our closest ally” but “nothing is off the table” in response to Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on imports from the UK, the business secretary has said.
In a statement following the US president’s nearly hour-long address to the world, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers.
“That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.”
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Mr Reynolds reiterated the statements from the prime minister and his cabinet over the past few days, saying the US is “our closest ally”, and the government’s approach is to “remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says “nothing is off the table” following the tariffs announcement. Pic: PA
But he continued: “We have a range of tools at our disposal, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to engage with UK businesses, including on their assessment of the impact of any further steps we take.
“Nobody wants a trade war, and our intention remains to secure a deal. But nothing is off the table, and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.”
‘Get back round the negotiating table’, say Tories
The Conservative Party’s shadow business and trade secretary described the US president’s announcement as “disappointing news which will worry working families across the country”.
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Sky’s Ed Conway examines how economies across the world are impacted by tariffs
Andrew Griffith hit out at the government for having “failed to negotiate with President Trump’s team for too many months after the election, failed to keep our experienced top trade negotiator, and failed to get a deal to avoid the imposition of these tariffs by our closest trading partner”.
“The chancellor’s emergency budget of just a week ago with its inadequate headroom is now at risk, casting uncertainty about more taxes or spending cuts,” he continued. “Sadly, it is British businesses and workers who will pay the price for Labour’s failure.”
He called on ministers to “swallow their pride” and “get back round the negotiating table to agree a fair deal to protect jobs and consumers in both the UK and the US alike”.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has reacted furiously to Mr Trump’s announcement of a “destructive trade war”, and called on the government to stand up against “Trump’s attempts to divide and rule”.
“The prime minister should bring our Commonwealth and European partners together in a coalition of the willing against Trump’s tariffs, using retaliatory tariffs where necessary and signing new trade deals with each other where possible.”
Speaking on Wednesday evening at a White House event entitled ‘Make America Wealthy Again’, the US president unleashed sweeping tariffs across the globe.
Mr Trump held up a chart detailing the worst offenders – which also showed the new tariffs the US would be imposing.
The UK’s rate of 10% was perhaps a shot across the bow over the 20% VAT rate, though the president’s suggested a 10% tariff imbalance between the two nations. Nonetheless, tariffs of 10% could directly reduce UK GDP by between 0.01% and 0.06%, according to Capital Economics.
A 25% duty on all car imports from around the world is also being imposed from midnight in the US – 5am on Thursday, UK time.
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The UK government had been hoping to negotiate an economic deal with the US in a bid to avoid the tariffs, but to no avail. The government says negotiations will continue.
The Confederation of British Industry said “negotiating stronger trading relationships with all like-minded partners will be foundational to any success”.
The business secretary is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, and we are also expecting to hear from the prime minister.
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