Advertisement

Fresh appeal to find killers who stabbed teen to death in Battersea

Matthew Kitandwe, 18, was ambushed as he returned to his family flat in Battersea two years ago
Matthew Kitandwe, 18, was ambushed as he returned to his family flat in Battersea two years ago

A mother held her dying son in her arms moments after watching his killers chase him into their block of flats in south London.

Matthew Kitandwe, 18, a talented footballer who had represented Uganda at youth level, was ambushed as he returned to his family flat in Battersea two years ago today.

In a new plea for information police revealed that his mother, Rose Kakooza, a carer, was sitting in a car outside and watched the gang of three men follow her son into the block on Wayford Street.

Sensing something was wrong she rushed back and found her son collapsed in the communal hallway suffering from several stab wounds.

Later it emerged that Ms Kakooza moved to London after losing her first-born son as a teenager in Uganda when a truck hit a car driven by his uncle.

Detectives today issued the new appeal about the killing on Tuesday June 21, 2016 saying they had met a wall of silence around possible suspects.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was an extremely traumatic for Mathew’s family, especially his mother who was waiting in the car outside the block of flats where Matthew was killed. She saw the suspects who killed her son follow him into the block and she was the first on the scene trying to save his life.

“No mother should ever have to hold her dying son in her hands.”

Police say the teenager, a student at South Thames College, had no gang links and they are investigating the possibility the attack was motivated by a dispute over a girl.

He had trained at Fulham FC’s academy but left to join Colliers Wood United, where he had just been promoted to the first team. He played for Uganda at the 2015 Africa Youth Qualifiers and hoped to represent it at senior level.

DCI Cranwell said : “He was a genuine young lad who had his whole life ahead of him.”

However, the suspects are thought to have links with a gang from Wandsworth. Eight people have been arrested but no-one has been charged.

The detective added: “There is a bit of a wall of silence around this, I can understand because of the fear element but we just need that final piece of evidence about what happened.

“There is a £10,000 reward for information and information will be held in the strictest of confidence.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call 020 8721 4054, or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.