The Hereford Times

Hunt for 'gentle giant's' killer

1:15am Monday 12th May 2008

A teenager murdered the day after his 16th birthday was killed in an unprovoked attack after he refused to take part in a fight, police said.

A manhunt is under way to track the killer responsible for cutting "gentle giant" Jimmy Mizen's neck with glass following a row as he went to buy a Lottery ticket with his brother.

Jimmy was near his home in the Three Cooks bakery in Lee, south east London, when a youth challenged him to a fight. After devout Catholic Jimmy declined to fight, the attacker smashed down the bakery door and picked up an advertising board which he wielded inside.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, senior investigating officer, said a fight broke out during which Jimmy sustained fatal injuries to his neck. He died at the scene in front of his brother and became the 13th teenager to be murdered in London so far this year.

Mr Lyons said the attack on Jimmy - a 6ft 4in member of Sidcup Rugby Club who was described as of "immaculate character" - was not gang or knife-related.

He told reporters: "Jimmy was a person of immaculate character, as is the Mizen family, and he is a victim of an entirely unprovoked and vicious attack and my heart and condolences go out to the Mizen family."

Earlier, around 250 people left standing room only for Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lee, where Jimmy had been an altar boy as a child and had been baptised.

Many of the congregation were in tears after a two-minute silence was held at the service, which was attended by Jimmy's parents, Barry, 56, and Margaret, 55, and other relatives and friends. One of the altar boys at the Mass was Jimmy's eight-year-old brother George.

Jimmy's other brothers included Danny, 30, Billy, 28, Tommy, 26, Bobby, 24, and Harry, 18, and his two sisters were Joanne, 35, and Samantha, 21.

Mr Mizen, vice-chairman of governors at Jimmy's school, St Thomas More Catholic comprehensive in Eltham, described his son as a "gorgeous and loving boy" with a sense of decency who adored his brothers and sisters and "wasn't afraid of hugs". Mrs Mizen said: "He was the loveliest, gentlest giant. He was loved by everyone, by his school, the church and his family."