13-year-old questioned over teenage stabbing victim

A 13-year-old boy is still being questioned over the murder of a young footballer in London. A post-mortem examination carried out on the body of 17-year-old Jahmal Mason-Blair, from Hackney, east London, found he died from a stab wound to the neck. His body was found by police on a routine patrol in Amhurst Road, Hackney, early on Saturday morning and he was pronounced dead soon afterwards. Scotland Yard said the 13-year-old was arrested in east London at 8.30pm on Saturday night and is still being held at an east London police station. Friends who paid tribute to Jahmal said he had dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and had attended the Tottenham Hotspur development centre for young players. Speaking at the scene, his half-brother Shaun Mason, 30, said Jahmal's father, Wesley Blair, collapsed when he heard of his son's death and was taken to hospital. Mr Mason said their mother, Tetela Rafeal, lived in Florida and was making plans to fly back to the UK after her daughter Maria broke the tragic news. An incident room has opened at Barking under Temporary Det Ch Insp Phil Rickells. Anybody with information should call the incident room on 0208 8345 1570 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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ITN | May 25, 2009

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