The family of a father-of-four shot dead by looters gathered by his graveside to plead for help to catch the killers of the "forgotten victim" of Croydon's riots.

Trevor Ellis, 26, of Brixton Hill, died two years ago on August 9, a day after being shot in the head in Duppas Hill Road while rampaging rioters tore up the town centre.

His mother, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and friends gathered on Friday to mark the second anniversary of his death and renew their appeal for his killers to be brought to justice.

Family members, wearing t-shirts paying tribute to Trevor, laid flowers at his grave and remembered a popular handyman "loved by everyone who knew him".

His brother Jason, 42, said: "The last two years have been hard. You don’t realise what someone means to you until they have gone.

"It has broken our family. It has changed things forever."

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Trevor Ellis

Trevor’s mum, Joy Sanderson, 52, said: "I miss his laughter, his antics, his jokes. He was playful, fun, bubbly, handsome. He was loved by everyone who knew him."

Trevor’s 31-year-old sister, Siyreta, said the family would not be able to move on until they had seen justice done.

She said: "Nothing is going to bring our brother back, but we need closure. How could they just kill my brother and take him away from us? And they are still out there, continuing their lives.

"Mothers and girlfriends are living with sons and boyfriends who are murderers. If they suspect it, they need to say something."

While the second anniversary of the riots brought fresh focus on the damage suffered by businesses and saw politicians repeat pledges to help, Trevor’s family feel his death has been all but forgotten.

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Young relatives at Trevor's graveside

His sister Samantha, 45, said: "I am tired of hearing from Boris Johnson and all the other politicians who are lining up to talk about the victims of the riots. We are the victims. Trevor was a victim.

"All they care about are material things. Shops can be repaired, businesses can regrow, but nothing will bring my brother back. He is the forgotten victim in all this."

Trevor’s children - Kyron, six; Anthony, four; and Ciara, two - were among the family united at his grave. Kyron paid a heartbreaking tribute to his father, saying: "I miss my dad and I want him back. I want the people who did this to him to be caught."

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Trevor's six-year-old son Kyron was among the family at his grave

The children - also including three-year-old daughter Miami - are being raised with the help of Trevor’s siblings and mum.

Siyreta said: "We help out how we can, but it has been very, very hard for the kids, especially the older ones who remember him properly."

Samantha, whose son Djed Spence turned 13 on Friday, added: "I am angry that every year we celebrate my son’s birthday on the day of my brother’s death.

"My son should have been growing up alongside his uncle."

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Loved ones laid flowers at Trevor's grave

Despite the Metropolitan Police making nine arrests and offering a £20,000 reward to help convict his killers, no one has been charged with Trevor's murder.

Police believe he died after a high-speed chase involving two cars, including one in which Trevor was a passenger.

His two companions, Blaze Aitcheson-Daley, 22, and Tyrone Cooper, 26, were both convicted of burglary and handling stolen goods last year.

It is believed the group became involved in a confrontation with nine others, culminating in the pursuit along Scarbrook Road and the A232 flyover and into Duppas Hill Road, where Trevor was shot.

Trevor's family insist he was not involved in the riots, but his mother fears his death has been seen as "just another black-on-black murder".

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Trevor's grave

But while they feel the police have not done enough to investigate the shooting, his family have not lost hope of getting justice.

Siyreta said: "You have got to have hope, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to keep going. There were at least ten people there that night who saw what happened. Someone out there knows who killed my brother.

"I just want them to do the right thing."


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