[MarcusGarveyLives]

14-year-old army cadet Shaquille Maitland-Smith was was stabbed in the stomach at 11.45 p.m. in St Thomas Place in Hackney on Saturday 30 August 2008, and died at Royal London Hospital at 8.15 a.m. on Sunday 31 August 2008. His 16-year-old sister, Titi, was also found at the scene with slash wounds to her face. She was treated in hospital and returned home today. He was a keen Manchester United supporter and attended Sir John Cass Foundation School. He was also a member of the Pembury Estate Youth Centre. Haydn Evans, headteacher at the teenager's school, said: 'Shaquille was a caring, enthusiastic and lively student popular with his peers. He was articulate, had an out-going personality and a good sense of humour. 'Shaquille was an able sportsman who excelled in football but who also represented the school in hockey and basketball. The whole school community is devastated by the tragic death of a 14-year-old student who had a promising future before him.' His mother said Shaquille was a well-mannered boy who had joined the army cadets. "I wanted him to focus on something productive that gave him self-discipline so if he was to face a situation he would back away from confrontation - he's not a fighter," she said.

Shaquille Maitland-Smith
Rest in Peace

Anyone with any information is urged to call the incident room on 020 8345 3865, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

[MarcusGarveyLives]

Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of a 14-year-old Shaquille Maitland-Smith who was stabbed while sitting on a bench outside his home.

Godiowe Dufeal, 19, of Well Street, east London, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons will appear before Thames Magistrates' Court, in London.

Police also arrested two other men, aged 18 and 21, over the murder.

(Source: Press Association, today)

Shaquille Maitland-Smith
Rest in Peace

Anyone with any information is urged to call the incident room on 020 8345 3865, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

[Judge dredd]

[MarcusGarveyLives]

Three more teenagers have been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Shaquille Smith in east London.

Shaquille was stabbed to death in Hackney last weekend, while sitting on a bench outside his home.
George Amponsah, 18, of Greenwood Road, east London, and a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old from Hackney will appear before Thames Magistrates on Monday.

Two others who were charged with Shaquille's murder appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Godiowe Dufeal, 19, of Well Street, east London, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named, were remanded in custody to re-appear in court on 3 October.

Shaquille Maitland-Smith
Rest in Peace

Anyone with any information is urged to call the incident room on 020 8345 3865, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

[MarcusGarveyLives]

Yesterday, George Amponsah, 18, of Greenwood Road, east London, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old, both from Hackney, were remanded in custody at Thames Magistrates' Court, in London, to appear at the Old Bailey on October 3. Five people have now been charged with Shaquille's murder.

[MarcusGarveyLives]

Several more arrests have been made by detectives investigating the murder of 14-year-old Shaquille Smith was fatally stabbed as he sat on a bench outside his home in Hackney, east London.

Police arrested five men aged between 17 and 18 as they answered bail at east London police stations. Police said three 17-year-olds and a man of 19, were held yesterday and another youth, aged 17, handed himself in at police station on today.

Six people have already been charged with murdering Shaquille in St Thomas's Place, Hackney.

All six are expected to appear in custody at the Old Bailey on 12 December 2008, a police spokesman said.

Shaquille Maitland-Smith
Rest in Peace

Anyone with any information is urged to call the incident room on 020 8345 3865, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

[MarcusGarveyLives]

Godiowe Dufeal, now 20, Amisi Khama, 18, George Amponsah, 19, his 17-year-old brother Freddie, and Leon Atwell and Kadean Dias, both 17, - all members of the so-called London Fields Boys, have all now been found guilty of murdering Shaquille Smith as he chatted with a 16-year-old girl outside his own home.

They have all now been remanded in custody until 10 July 2009 for sentencing.

Young gang members found guilty of murder of Shaquille Smith

[MarcusGarveyLives]

The following victim impact statement from the murdered boy's mother, Sandra, was read out in court prior to sentencing:

"Every day since Shaq's death, myself, his father, his siblings, extended family and friends feel lost, bewildered and tearful, hoping it is a bad dream and then we question why?

Why would someone as innocent as Shaquille become a target for someone to wilfully inflict pain on him when he was not being confrontational or making any trouble?

Why, when he was innocently standing outside his house, his life was taken away in an instant?

Only the person who inflicted that injury can answer that question.

How do you describe a 14-year-old who was going through puberty and self-realisation?
Shaquille was developing as a teenager, breaking away from his parents, making decisions for himself, learning to form his own decision-making faculties.

It is difficult to put into a few words the life that Shaq had and the life he has lost.
Shaquille was a typical boy, growing up boisterous, lots of energy.

I can tell you about the son that did chores at home, washing up, Hoovering and his love of food and cooking.

I can tell you about Shaq who loved his PlayStation, who loved to play tricks on you, his love of music, his love of drama, playing football and more recently attending army cadets.

What I can't tell you about is how he would manage having to take his exams, his graduation, his first job, his first car, his first girlfriend, getting married, having children.

In a few words, Shaquille was a loving boy, both as a young child and an adolescent.
Shaq loved to give you sloppy kisses or just cuddle up with you. He was polite and respectful to both elders and young adults in any situation.

A light has been dimmed and put out of our lives. We never had a chance to say goodbye to Shaq.

We know he is resting, he is safe and he is at peace.

For those who harmed Shaquille, they will have to live with their conscience, if they have one, knowing what they did."


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/09/article-1198581-05A7AE26000005DC-550_468x218.jpg

(Left to right) Amisi Khama,18, Leon Atwell, 17 and George Amponsah, 19,

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/09/article-1198581-05A7AE26000005DC-429_468x229.jpg

(Left to right) Kadean Dias, 18, Freddie Amponsah, 17, and Godiowe Dufeal, 20

"As the impact statement of Shaquille’s mother, Sandra Maitland-Smith, was read to the Old Bailey, Dufeal was taken to the cells. The other killers yawned and fidgeted in the dock."

(Source: The Times, 10 June 2009)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/01/article-1051091-027B42B500000578-514_233x369.jpg

Shaquille Maitland-Smith
Rest in Peace