Metropolitan Police relaunch appeal after brutal stabbing near Clapham Common leaves teenage boy in permanent vegetative state

Police today relaunched an appeal after 17-year-old Jamel Boyce was stabbed in Triangle Place near Clapham Common last October.

The attack left Jamel fighting for his life, unconscious, unable to walk or speak, and with his brain barely functioning enough to keep his heart beating.

He remains in hospital and is extremely unlikely to make any significant recovery.

Jamel was with a group of people in McDonald's in Clapham High Street at around 3pm on October 14. It appears there was a dispute, and then, later, an altercation in Triangle Place (pictured after the attack, above and below) near Sainsbury’s car park that ended up with the St Francis Xavier College student being stabbed.

The group involved ran away toward Nelson’s Row, Clapham Park Road or Clapham High Street, the Metropolitan Police believe.

The force launched an investigation after a caller at 7.10pm told emergency services that Jamel, who was studying business, had been stabbed.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service took Jamel to a south London hospital, and he has since been transferred to a specialist long-term care facility.

Detective Sergeant Paul Graves of Lambeth CID, who is leading the Met’s investigation, returned to the scene nearly six months on to re-traced Jamel's movements before the tragic attack.

He said: “We need your help. Jamel's condition is not improving and he will never have any quality of life. His family's grief after losing the boy they knew is immeasurable.

"If you called 999 initially or you thought your information wasn't significant, call us now; every bit of information is vital. Contact us today and help bring the people who did this to justice.

"From speaking to witnesses, it appears that the incident would have appeared innocuous at first glance and people may not have realised he had been stabbed.

"We know Jamel was involved in an altercation involving four other males adjacent to Sainsbury's car park in Triangle Place. Members of the public often use this route to access the supermarket and it may be that people have witnessed what appeared to be a minor scuffle and dismissed it as a trivial event.”

Three 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in mid-October and have been bailed until early April pending further enquiries.

Two 20-year-old men and a 17-year-old boy were also arrested and later released with no further action being taken.

Detectives have released a CCTV image (above) of a man leaving the Sainsbury’s supermarket, who may be a significant witness. Officers urge the man to contact them.

To offer information, call Lambeth CID on 07785 774447 or via 101.

To offer information anonymously, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.