'I want somebody found for this' Mum's heartbreak over stabbing of her son for his bike
THIS IS the horrifying moment a teenage boy was stabbed in the chest by a group of thugs who left him for dead.
Alan Cartwright, 15, was brutally stabbed as he cycled along a busy north London street with friends.
A gang of three, described as male youths, approached the boys near Copenhagen Street, on Caledonian Road, Islington, and attacked them.
The Holloway High School pupil was stabbed once and bravely tried to cycle away, but after making it a short distance he collapsed and was later pronounced dead.
The shocking CCTV footage was released today as part of a police appeal to find the attackers.
The teenager's mother and sister described the Army cadet, who was a Celtic and Arsenal fan, as a "joker" who loved bikes and never caused any trouble.
Fighting back tears, Alan's mother Michelle Watson, 39, said: "He always made you laugh about anything and everything. He was just the funny one out of his friends.
"I feel angry, I want somebody found for this. I just feel numb.
"Looking at the CCTV footage it looks like he got punched, like somebody had just hit him.
"It was so quick, he just carried on riding and two minutes up the road he is collapsed and dead. It's like it's not real.
"I would say to witnesses, if you've got any sort of conscience come forward because a brother and son is dead."
The schoolboy's sister Cherrie Smith, 21, broke down when she spoke about how he would not be around to see her get married.
She added that her brother's death has yet to sink in as the family are still to see the teenager's body.
CCTV footage of Alan Cartwright stabbing
Alan stood no chance of defending himself against his attacker, who casually stepped out in front of him and stabbed him in the chest
Ms Smith said: "We want any witnesses to give as much information as they possibly can. If you have a little brother or sister, ask yourself 'what if it was them?'
"If that was me, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
"People are saying 'wrong place, wrong time', but those people shouldn't be carrying knives on them. The whole of his life Alan has grown up in the Cally (Caledonian Road) and you just don't expect it.
"He has always put a front on in front of me and his friends that he was like a hard man, but he wouldn't hurt a fly, he really wouldn't.
"I just clearly hope someone gets found for this - knowing he has been taken away from us in such an unlawful way, it's just heartbreaking because there's a chance someone could get away with this.
"We clearly think it was a bike robbery, but the question is 'why'? Why has that person done that?"
In the CCTV footage a second suspect is also shown lunging at one of the Alan's friends and knocking him off his bike.
A third is seen crossing the road and grabbing another of the victim's friends to pull him off his bike.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones, who is leading the investigation for the Met Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command, appealed for any information the public may be able to provide.
He said: "The footage of the suspects attacking Alan and his friends is truly shocking.
"Alan stood no chance of defending himself against his attacker, who casually stepped out in front of him and stabbed him in the chest.
"Identifying and arresting the suspects is our absolute priority. We are working tirelessly and the investigation is moving at a fast pace.
"It is obvious from the footage that Caledonian Road is busy with cars and pedestrians. We have already spoken to a number of witnesses who have provided helpful information to the investigation; however, I would like to re-appeal to anyone who may know something about Alan's murder and the robbery of the bikes.
"Where are the two bicycles that were taken? Someone may have noticed a new bike brought home or perhaps you have been offered a similar bike for sale? If so, I would urge you to contact the police.
"I would like to reassure anyone who is worried about contacting the police that they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity."
All three suspects are described by police as male youths who were wearing dark tops and had their faces partly covered.
The bicycles stolen during the stabbing were a red mountain bike and a black and red pedal cycle.
A post-mortem examination yesterday concluded that the cause of Alan's death was a single stab wound to the chest.
Former EastEnders actress and anti-knife campaigner Brooke Kinsella described the tragedy as "sickening, cowardly, senseless".
Ms Kinsella, whose 16-year-old brother Ben died after he was stabbed 11 times as he fled a fight in Islington in 2008, tweeted: "Another young boy lost to knife crime, another family destroyed. Sickening, cowardly, senseless culture.
"Heart is weary #PutDownYourKnives".
Police are asking anyone with information to call the incident room on 020 8345 3734 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org
