JIMMY Mizen had his whole life ahead of him when he entered a south London bakery in 2008.
But in a fit of rage that was robbed from him by Jake Fahri.
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Jake Fahri, known as TEN, was given a life sentence in 2009Credit: Reuters
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Millwall fan Jimmy Mizen was attacked by Fahri at a bakery in Lee, South East LondonCredit: Collect
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Robert Jenrick says Jimmy’s family deserve so much betterCredit: PA
I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and suffering his death caused.
The courage of his family to forgive Fahri despite everything is truly remarkable.
I don’t think I could have done so myself. Their positivity and dignity are a lesson to us all.
It makes Fahri’s subsequent behaviour all the more despicable.
I can think of few more sickening things than glorifying the death of an innocent young boy in songs to make money.
But what is more shocking is that our national broadcaster are promoting this music from a murderer.
What on earth are radio bosses thinking?
Not only are they helping him make money from his despicable crime, they are glamourising violence to tens of thousands of impressionable young teenagers who listen.
We currently have a knife crime epidemic and they are helping to fuel it.
Just last week a 14 year-old boy was stabbed to death on bus in broad daylight in south east London.
Drill rapper promoted by BBC radio unmasked as cold-blooded murderer of schoolboy Jimmy Mizen
There were 50,000 knife related offences last year and in the capital it’s completely out of control.
Yes, we need more robust enforcement, but we also need people in positions of responsibility to reject it entirely.
There should be a full investigation into such a poor editorial decision, but shamefully the BBC are in denial.
Jimmy’s poor family deserve a full apology from the BBC and a commitment that the Radio 1 extra will never play music glorifying such abhorrent violence again.
Spotify and YouTube should follow suit too. They should hang their heads in shame they too are monetising music lyrics that so brazenly celebrate murder.
And the probation service need to act fast. It makes a mockery of our justice system if murders can get away with this sick behaviour with impunity.
Jimmy’s family deserve so much better.
Robert Jenrick is the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice.
British public rallies behind Jimmy Mizen’s family
By Richard Moriarty, North West District Editor
THE British public rallied behind Jimmy Mizen’s family in the wake of the Sun’s story about his killer’s drill rap music being played on the BBC – by donating cash to the foundation set up in Jimmy’s name to promote “hope, not hate”.
The Mizen Foundation was founded in 2008 after 16-year-old Jimmy was murdered by Fahri as he queued in a bakery in south-east London.
Fahri was sentenced to life and served 15 years before being released from prison in June 2023 and embarking on music career as a balaclava-wearing rapper called TEN.
Some of his tracks have been played on the BBC’s 1XTRA station and also on its website, with DJ Theo Johnson promoting him as a “stand out” musician.
The Ministry of Justice is now investigating.
In response, well-wishers have rallied around the deeply religious Mizen family, who have spent the years since Jimmy’s murder campaigning for peace and trying to help young people.
On the Foundation’s website, one well wisher wrote: “I saw Margaret on television this morning and she was so moving and inspiring that I wanted to do something positive in response.
“Sending love and support to her, Barry and your family.”
Another added: “The way you have chosen to cherish Jimmy’s memory and celebrate his life is outstanding.
“Your message of forgiveness is a message for everyone today.”
Jimmy’s family created the charity to ensure that something positive came out of their loss.
Parents Margaret and Barry have dedicated their lives to celebrating Jimmy’s life, sharing their story of forgiveness, peace, and hope to effect change in our communities.
The charity aims to support young people across the UK by challenging them to be the change makers and peace makers in their local communities.