A mother who lost her 17-year-old son in a murder five years ago today said she still believes his killers will be brought to justice.

James Andre Smartt-Ford, known to friends as Andre or Dre, was gunned down near the entrance to Streatham ice rink on February 3, 2007.

Despite being shot twice, the 17-year-old from Streatham managed to stumble onto the ice where he collapsed.

He was taken to St George’s hospital where he died an hour later, leaving behind a family who would never fully recover.

Police arrested seven youths on the night of the shooting, and 11 more in the aftermath, but no one has ever been charged with murder.

Remarkably, James' mother, Tracey, still believes those responsible will be brought to justice.

“I have never given up hope that amongst 300 people in a crowded ice rink, it would eventually be solved. I don't believe there wasn't anyone who saw what happened," she said. "I take great comfort in the fact the Stephen Lawrence case took 20 years. Justice will prevail- so long as the case remains open I remain hopeful.”

Ms Ford usually marks the anniversary of her son’s death by visiting the place where he was shot.

But this year, following the demolition of the 81-year-old ice arena, she was invited to the Southbank Mosaics centre in Waterloo to receive a custom-made portrait of her son.

Ms Ford says she feels “unaffected” by the rink’s closure, but feels as though very little has changed since 2007, describing violent crime amongst young people as an “epidemic”.

She said: “The ice skating rink has closed down and what it has made me realise is that it is five years on and the killers or killer is still at large, and whether it is stabbing or shooting, children are still dying.”

Ms Ford, whose remaining daughter is now 19, devotes her time to working with families who have lost a child through violent crime, and gives talks to schoolchildren as part of her work for JAGS (James Andre Godfrey Smartt-Ford) foundation.

She said: “The work I do in schools goes a long way to explaining how it is. I would like to think that somewhere along the line, a child is thinking, “I am not going to do that to my mum.”

A £20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to a conviction.

Trident are appealing for anyone who may have information, or who was at the event, to call the incident room on 020 8247 4554 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.