Tottenham, Wood Green and Edmonton Journal



Ofiyke Nmezu

A THIRD murder inquiry is under way after the death of an Edmonton teenager on Friday - reportedly caused by a brick attack.

Sixteen-year-old Ofiyke Nmezu, known as Iyke, died at North Middlesex Hospital a few hours after he arrived for treatment for a head injury.

A post mortem at Hornsey Mortuary on Sunday gave the cause of death as a fractured skull.

Police believe Ofiyke suffered the head injury during an assault two weeks earlier on Friday, February 15 - but this was not reported at the time.

Edmonton MP Andy Love said: "Clearly he had a fractured skull and clearly that seemed to be caused by a brick attack, but we don't know any more in relation to the causes, what led up to it and why the young man never came forward beforehand."

Tributes for Ofiyke were left in Fore Street, Edmonton. His father Mannie Nmezu reportedly described him as a "model son".

He said: "He was a lovely boy - intelligent, with a good heart. He was never a violent person throughout his life until he died."

He begged his son's friends not take revenge on his behalf. He said more than 2,000 people had come to pay their respects at the family home in Reculver Mews.

Police confirmed a murder inquiry has begun - the third into deaths of Edmonton teenagers this year.

Around a mile away Henry Bolombi, 18, of Wyldfield Gardens, Lower Edmonton, was found with a stab wound to the chest in Plevna Road by Edmonton Green shopping centre, just hours into New Year's Day and died in hospital - becoming the capital's first teenage knife crime victim of the year. Another 18-year-old, Boduka Louis Mudianga, of Roman Way, Enfield, died after being stabbed in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene in Silver Street, Edmonton, on January 21.

Mr Love said the community was dealing with "the sheer shock and horror" of the incidents and understood that "this is friction between different gangs".

Ofiyke's death follows those of six other teenagers murdered on the capital's streets this year.

Anyone who can assist the police inquiry into Ofiyke's death is asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 0100, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.