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Man dies saving son

from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

Evening Standard

17/12/04 - News and city section

Man dies saving son

By Justin Davenport and Luke David

A father has been stabbed to death trying to protect his son from bullying by a gang of teenagers.

Benjamin Durao, 35, was fatally wounded after confronting the gang when they damaged the front door of his home.

He chased them away, but one turned and confronted him and then stabbed him.

A medical team treated the victim at the scene before he was taken to hospital but he died shortly after arriving there.

Two boys, both aged 14, have been arrested in connection with the murder.

Detectives have appealed for anyone who witnessed a chase through the estate which is believed to have involved the victim and a group of up to four boys.

They are investigating reports that one of Mr Durao's sons had been the victim of bullying.

Today neighbours on the Myatt's Field estate in Kennington described Mr Durao, an Angolan-born painter and decorator, as an " intelligent and friendly" man who "always wanted to help people".

They said he and his family had endured a campaign of harassment for a week before the murder.

Claudio Pinheiro, 33, said the victim's three sons had been involved in a confrontation with a group of older boys as they played outside their home last week.

"One of my friend's [Mr Durao's] sons aged seven went to tell his father and he came and said to the boys, 'He's been living here for a long time, you can play together', but the [older] boys didn't like it.

"The next day they came around to their house and started abusing him. It happened again the next day and they called the police, but the police didn't come.

"The boys kept coming round. My friend said he would talk to them but his wife said 'don't it's dangerous' but he said he had to talk to them, his boy had to play somewhere.

"The boys were already prepared to kill him and stabbed him. An hour later he was dead in hospital."

Mr Pinheiro added: "It's getting worse. Our children have to grow up with this."

The murder comes days after the Government announced plans to ban the sale of knives to under-18s.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/15407725?version=1
©2004 Associated New Media

(posted 7041 days ago)

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