Connect with us

Published

on

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
Image:
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 Nedd-Bruce was shot dead in October 2018 and his killer has never been charged. Pic: Cherie Nedd
Image:
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.”

Ethan Nedd-Bruce pictured with his mother Cherie: Pic: Cherie Nedd
Image:
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
Image:
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.

Ethan Nedd-Bruce pictured with his mother Cherie: Pic: Cherie Nedd
Image:
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, 20, was shot dead in west London in June 2020
Image:
Alexander Kareem was shot dead in west London in June 2020
Alexander Kareem's sister Khafi (left) and mother Victoria during his burial in July
Image:
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.

Alexander Kareem, 20, was shot dead in west London in June 2020
Image:
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 Kareem was shot dead in west London. Pic: Kabir Kareem
Image:
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.

The shooting happened in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in June last year
Image:
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.

Continue Reading

UK

Church ‘needs to be changed’, Archbishop of York to say in Christmas Day sermon after sex scandals

Published

on

By

Church 'needs to be changed', Archbishop of York to say in Christmas Day sermon after sex scandals

The Church of England needs to “kneel in penitence” and “be changed”, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell is expected to say in his Christmas Day sermon.

It comes at a challenging time for the Church which has faced criticism over how it handled a number of abuse scandals.

Mr Cottrell will next month effectively become the Church’s temporary leader in place of the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

Mr Welby announced his resignation in November and will step down on 6 January after a report found prolific serial abuser John Smyth may have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported him to police in 2013.

But Mr Cottrell has himself also faced calls to quit after revelations David Tudor, a priest at the centre of a sexual abuse case, was twice reappointed under him while he was serving as bishop of Chelmsford.

With Mr Welby not giving the 25 December sermon, the focus has moved to what Mr Cottrell will say at York Minster.

He is expected to say the Church must “kneel in penitence and adoration” this Christmas and “be changed”.

He will say about Jesus: “At the centre of the Christmas story is a vulnerable child; a vulnerable child that Herod’s furious wrath will try and destroy, for like every tyrant he cannot abide a rival.

“The Church of England – the Church of England I love and serve – needs to look at this vulnerable child, at this emptying out of power to demonstrate the power of love, for in this vulnerable child we see God.

“If you’re in love, show me. If you have love in your hearts, embody and demonstrate that love by what you do.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Pic: PA
Image:
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Pic: PA

‘Put the needs of others first’

The archbishop will add: “This is what we learn at the manger. Put the needs of others first – those who are cold and hungry and homeless this Christmas.

“Those who are victims of abuse and exploitation. Those who, like the little holy family, have to flee oppression and seek refuge in a foreign land.”

Read more:
Church of England rules ‘not fit for purpose’
Archbishop ‘sorry’ for hurt caused by final speech

With regards to the Tudor case, Mr Cottrell has acknowledged things “could have been handled differently, and regrets that it wasn’t”.

But Tudor’s victims have branded Mr Cottrell’s response to the case “insulting and upsetting”. They have suggested it’s “inevitable” that he resigns or is forced out of his role.

Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley questioned how Mr Cottrell could have any credibility, and Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek declined to publicly back him.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, is giving the sermon at Canterbury Cathedral in place of Mr Welby and will speak of the birth of Jesus as a triumph of “light and hope” over “fear and darkness”.

Continue Reading

UK

A&E departments ‘absolutely full to bursting’ with flu blamed for making ‘bad situation even worse’, top medic says

Published

on

By

A&E departments 'absolutely full to bursting' with flu blamed for making 'bad situation even worse', top medic says

Around half of accident and emergency departments, polled by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), have said they are “full to bursting” this Christmas.

The vice-president of the RCEM, Dr Ian Higginson, told Sky News’ Gareth Barlow on Christmas Eve that the situation for the NHS in the UK is “pretty grim” at the moment.

The group, representing emergency doctors, put a call out to senior managers on Friday night. Dr Higginson said half responded and “all but two of them said that the emergency departments were absolutely full to bursting”.

“Normally just before Christmas, we’d expect a bit of a lull. So I’m afraid things are looking pretty difficult out there for our patients and for our staff,” he added.

Screengrab of the vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine RCEM, Dr Ian Higginson during a zoom iv with SN on 24/12/2024
Image:
Dr Ian Higginson told Sky News A&E departments are ‘absolutely full to bursting’

The NHS has warned that hospitals are under severe pressure because of winter flu cases and a so-called “quad-demic”, combining respiratory infections with norovirus.

Commenting on the challenges facing the NHS, Dr Higginson said: “We simply don’t have enough beds in our hospitals for patients who are admitted as emergencies.

“We don’t have enough staff for those beds and we don’t have any headroom at all. So if something like flu hits as it has done, it makes a bad situation even worse.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Hospitals are being flooded by winter flu cases

England ‘about 10,000 beds short’

Dr Higginson added he believes the answer is “strategic solutions and strategic investment”.

He said: “In England alone, we reckon we’re about 10,000 beds short in our hospitals to deal with the predictable, urgent and emergency care… the equivalent of approximately two wards in every hospital.”

Recently the RCEM also attacked the “nonsensical” guidance on how to treat patients in corridors – describing it as “out of touch” and “normalising the dangerous”.

Read more from Sky News:
UK’s oldest man celebrates 110th birthday
Boost in Denmark’s defence spending after Trump comments
Corrie star leaves after 50 years

Dr Higginson said recent pressures mean “we’ve got patients all the way through our corridors because we can’t admit them to hospital when they need to”.

He added: “It may be that their ambulance is outside in car parks because those patients can’t get into our emergency departments.”

And he argued that social care is “in a really difficult place at the moment” – needing investment to prevent older patients from remaining in hospital longer than they need to.

“When they’re ready to leave hospital, they get stuck in hospital, and that contributes to that shortage of beds even more,” he said.

Since its election victory in July, the Labour government has acknowledged the NHS needs investment with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it is “broken”.

In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £22.6bn increase in day-to-day spending on the NHS in her budget.

Commenting on rising pressures within the NHS, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We inherited an NHS that is broken but not beaten, and staff are already working hard to tackle an increase in admissions this winter.”

“For too long, an annual winter crisis has become the norm. We will deliver long-term reforms through our 10-year health plan that will create a health service that will be there for all of us all year round,” he added.

Continue Reading

UK

‘110 years young’ – UK’s oldest man celebrates birthday with celebrity party

Published

on

By

'110 years young' - UK's oldest man celebrates birthday with celebrity party

The UK’s oldest man has celebrated his 110th birthday with a special performance from opera singer Alfie Boe at his care home in Derbyshire.

A party was laid on for Donald Rose – who’s now ranked as a ‘supercentenarian’.

Mr Boe joined the bash in Ilkeston by video call and sang happy birthday, adding it was “a pleasure” to perform for him.

Mr Rose, who served in the Second World War with the Queen’s Royal Regiment, said: “Today is the best day I’ve ever had.”

Donald Rose who is 110 on 24/12/2024 celebrating his birthday at Canal Vue care home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Alfie Boe (pictured on video call) rang him and sung happy birthday.
Sourced via Johanna Howitt. No credit
Image:
Alfie Boe sang happy birthday via video call

Canal Vue Care Home announced his birthday with a post on Facebook: “Today we’re celebrating a remarkable milestone. Our beloved Donald is turning 110 years young!”

Activity coordinator Naomi Allsop also shared a touching tribute on Facebook: “Happy 110th birthday to my amazing best friend, the UK’s oldest man and a remarkable WWII and D-Day veteran!

“We’ve shared so many incredible experiences together, and there’s still so much more to come!”

“Donald is a lovely character – and a true national treasure,” said the Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Kate Fennelly, who also paid him a visit.

Mr Rose, who was born in 1914 in Westcott, Surrey, also received a card from The King and Queen, which he proudly showed off.

Other performances at the care home included Kate from D-Day Darlings, an all-female singing group who reached the finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

She sang Dame Vera Lynn’s The White Cliffs of Dover and We’ll Meet Again.

Donald Rose who is 110 on 24/12/2024 celebrating his birthday at Canal Vue care home in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
Sourced via Johanna Howitt. No credit
Image:
Mr Rose, a Second World War veteran, also received a military visit


On 5 December, the war hero was among 200 veterans and their guests to attend a Christmas reception at St James’s Palace, hosted by the Duke of Gloucester.

The event was organised by The Not Forgotten veterans’ charity, which aims to combat isolation and loneliness in the armed forces and those who have served through social activities and holidays.

Mr Rose served as a sniper and Desert Rat in North Africa in the Second World War, according to The Gerontology Research Group, and was part of the liberation of Italy and France.

He earned a number of medals during his service including the Legion D’Honneur – France’s highest honour.

After working various jobs as a labourer, lorry driver and bin man he moved to Derbyshire in 2000 following the death of his wife, and at the age of 106 moved into his care home in Ilkeston.

Read more from Sky News:
Mother in court accused of murdering son
Thousands in forces ‘not medically deployable’

Mild weather ahead of Christmas Day

On 25 November, following the death of 112-year-old John Tinniswood, he became the oldest known living man in the UK.

The world’s oldest living person is Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka.

Continue Reading

Trending