Knife victim’s mother sends message to parents of her son’s killers
‘Any mother who is covering up information for their son may as well have pushed the knife into his heart themselves’
Friday, 24th March 2017 — By Joe Cooper and Koos Couvée
Michelle McPhillips holding a picture of Jonathan with his grandmother
THE mother of murdered Jonathan “JJ” McPhillips has pleaded for more information about her son’s death, saying: “Any mother who is covering up information for their son may as well have pushed the knife into his heart themselves.”
As police announced they had arrested a fourth person yesterday (Thursday), Michelle McPhillips said people had to come forward to ensure her son’s killers were brought to justice.
“Every mother knows their child,” Ms McPhillips told the Tribune. “If your son is acting differently then you should do something about it because they could have killed an innocent person.”
A 21-year-old man arrested yesterday was taken to an east London police station for questioning. Detectives had already made three arrests – of two men, aged 19 and 24, on suspicion of murder and of a 45-year-old woman suspected of assisting an offender. All have been bailed to return to police stations over the coming months.
“My son was just standing there doing nothing wrong. Somebody needs to come forward,” Ms McPhillips said.
Mr McPhillips, 28, had two daughters, aged two and four.
“I’m now looking after two little girls,” his mother said. “When I’m pushing them on the swings they are calling out for their daddy to come back from heaven.”
Jonathan McPhillips with daughters Lexi-Jae and Evie-Rose
The former Highbury Grove pupil was standing with a group of between six and eight young men outside Islington Assembly Hall around midnight on Saturday, February 25, when they were suddenly rushed by six men dressed in hoods and dark clothing who came from the direction of Richmond Grove. Mr McPhillips was stabbed in the chest.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said he does not believe Mr McPhillips was in a gang.
“There’s a lot of speculation that it was gangs, but the guy who died was not a gang person at all,” he said. “This other group, about five or six of them, came down Richmond Grove and jumped the other group, who are hanging around a car.
“He [“JJ”] is there talking to people and not associated with gangs. He’s stood there and the reason he has been stabbed is he didn’t try to run away and someone has stabbed him and then he ran, probably thinking someone punched him, and 200 yards down the road he collapsed.”
A 17-year-old, who was in the group with Mr McPhillips, was stabbed twice but escaped without serious injuries.
DCI Whellams said police have “their own theories” about the attackers’ motives but would not say whether they were linked to any particular gang. It is, however, believed they are connected to the east of the borough.
“It’s quite clear that they’re armed and were running into this other group who were completely oblivious,” he added. “It’s a very active investigation and there have been a number of arrests. It’s quite involved and complicated and it will take time.
“Anyone who has recently phoned the incident room, we would urge them to make contact again.”
The incident room number is 020 8345 3775. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org
Mr McPhillips’ funeral will be held on Friday, March 31.
The hearse will leave the family home at 11am, doing a circuit of Milner Square before heading to St Mary’s Church in Upper Street for a service at 12.30pm. Mourners will gather at the Green Man pub, in Essex Road, afterwards.
