Advertisement

Mother pays tribute to boy, 7, killed in 'arson attack' in Deptford

Joel, 7, had been enjoying the summer holidays with friends when he was killed
Joel, 7, had been enjoying the summer holidays with friends when he was killed

The family of a “sweet and innocent” seven-year-old boy killed in a suspected arson attack on his home spoke of their heartbreak for the first time today.

Joel Urhie became trapped and died before the emergency services could reach him . His mother Iroroefe Urhie, 50, and sister Sarah, 19, escaped by leaping from a first-floor window of the property in Adolphus Street, Deptford, in the early hours of August 7.

Ms Urhie, a nurse, spent weeks in hospital after suffering a head injury and breaking her arm and pelvis in the fall. Sarah broke her heel but was later discharged to recover with relatives.

Six weeks after the fire, the family have spoken about the church-going schoolboy who loved his classes at nearby Tidemill Academy.

His mother said: “Joel was the sweetest most caring little boy you could ever meet. He was so intelligent and always curious to learn new things.

Joel always wanted people around him. His smile and laugh would light up a room. He was so full of life' said Iroroefe Urhie, Joel’s mother
Joel always wanted people around him. His smile and laugh would light up a room. He was so full of life' said Iroroefe Urhie, Joel’s mother

“Joel always wanted people around him — that was why we used to go to the park a lot so that he could make new friends. His smile and laugh would light up a room and he was so full of life and energy.”

Joel’s cousin Tega Majoroh, 18, said Joel was “more like a little brother” to her. She was a frequent visitor to the Urhie household where they would play Scrabble or go to nearby Margaret McMillan Park.

She said: “Joel was a kid that if you met him you would fall in love with him straight away. He was smiley and caring and would be nice to everyone he met. He had lots of friends.

“Joel loved cartoons and the latest was Nate Is Late where two kids are late for school every day. He was glued to it. He would come home and put the videos on to learn his ABCs and we’d write them all out. He’d go to school on his scooter every morning excited.” Miss Majoroh, who is about to start an economics degree at Coventry University, added: “It’s a devastating time because he was just seven years old. He spent the summer being a normal kid. He would’ve been starting year three a few weeks ago.”

A murder investigation has been launched, and two men, aged 21 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and arson. They have been released under investigation.

The family today appealed for anyone with information to come forward to bring about “justice” for Joel.

Miss Majoroh said: “I would ask anyone who knows anything to come forward because this has broken a lot of people. It helps knowing that we can get some closure and find this person so they cannot hurt anyone else.”

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 020 8345 3715 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.