UK NEWS

MOTHER OF MURDERED TEENAGE ARMY CADET SPEAKS OUT

Joseph Lappin, 16, who was stabbed to death after a gang attack

Wednesday October 22,2008

THE mother of a talented teenage Army cadet spoke last night of her heartache after he was stabbed to death outside a church youth club.

Joseph Lappin, 16, was knifed in the chest in an attack by a mob of up to 15 youths as he left a band practice with friends.

Last night his mother Toni appealed to the mothers of his killers to hand them in as her “perfect” son became the latest in a long list of youngsters to be murdered on Britain’s streets.

Joseph, who played the drums and guitar, had recently left school with 11 GCSEs and planned to fulfil his dream of joining the Army.

Fighting tears alongside her husband John, Mrs Lappin described Joseph as the “centre of our family” and said they could not believe he would “not be coming home to us”.

She added: “Joseph had never been in trouble. He left school in the summer and was working hard, with plans to join the Army. He was a cadet for the last three years.

“We believe a large group was involved in what happened. As a mother I would like to appeal to the mothers of all those involved.

“Please understand our grief. Come forward. You have the power to do the right thing. We have to make sure that another family does not go through what we are going through now.”

Joseph, also known as Joey, was believed to be waiting for a lift home from his parents when he and two friends were chased down and attacked.

He was stabbed near the entrance to the Church of England Shrewsbury House youth club in Everton, Liverpool, on Monday night. The friends had earlier been practising inside with around 60 other youngsters. Police are investigating one theory that the attackers mistook Joseph and his friends for rivals from another gang.

Locals described how groups of youths had previously used the green outside the club to fight each other using knives and cricket bats.

Witnesses saw Joseph staggering back, white-faced, into the club, where he collapsed. He later died in hospital.

His friend, sixth-former Callum Naden, 17, was also stabbed and received treatment for serious knife wounds. The third boy, also 17, was beaten.

A father told how his 11-year-old son looked on in horror as blood poured from Joseph’s wounds. He wrote on a website: “A load of horrible vermin attacked him and his mate for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Joseph, who had a younger brother Michael and sister Bethany, left school two months ago.

His senior officer in the cadets, Major Tony Kirkpatrick, said: “He was a cracking lad who wanted to be a part of everything. We will all miss him tremendously.”

Police have arrested two youths on suspicion of murder but believe that two ringleaders remain at large. Officers are studying CCTV.

Chief Supt Steve Watson said: “We will get to the bottom of this and bend over backwards to bring the perpetrators to justice.”