Stop the killings, says family in 'Scarface' case

A family has called on ministers to do more to stop teenage killings after a gang member known as "Scarface" was convicted of murdering their son.

Hours after Richard Harrison-Allen, 20, was found guilty of killing Etem Celebi, his mother, Hayriye, told how her life had fallen apart.

Etem was killed when Harrison-Allen, a member of the "Stamford Hill Gang", opened fire on him and four of his friends on the Smalley Close estate in Stoke Newington on 14 November 2007. The 17-year-old victim was a member of a rival gang called "Smalley Close Man Dem Gang".

An original Old Bailey trial failed to reach a verdict but Harrison-Allen was found guilty of murder at a retrial at Luton crown court. His co-accused, Sheldon "Sweets" Small, then 17, was cleared of murder.

After the verdict Mrs Celebi, 47, told the Standard: "Our life is over. I cannot go out. I cannot look at other teenagers without crying. The Government always finds money to spend on things like public transport. They should be spending more on our young people, to offer them more opportunities."

Etem, a childhood friend of XFactor winner Leona Lewis, was a semi-professional footballer who dreamed of joining Arsenal. His brother, Firat, a psychology student, said the murder "has ruined my life".

Harrison-Allen, of Hackney, was remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date.