'People shouldn't get away with a barbaric act'

The mother of a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed and killed in central London said "people shouldn't get away with such a barbaric act".

Hani Hicham Abou El Kheir died on 27 January 2013 and five men were convicted of his murder following a trial at the Old Bailey in January 2014.

The Met Police said one suspect, 33-year-old Dilawar Hussain, 33, remained outstanding and his arrest warrant was still in place. He is thought to be in Bangladesh.

Hani's mother Pauline Hickey said: "It is now 12 years since my only son, Hani, was hunted down and attacked in a busy street by a group of feral men. While several people have been jailed for his murder, one suspect remains free."

She added: "People are too scared or are protecting somebody," she said. "Don't. Why would you want to protect monsters?

"Hani was only a boy when he was killed – he had his whole life to live and this was brutally taken away."

Ms Hickey described her son as a happy child who was "always smiling".

"His name, Hani, means happiness," she said. "He lived up to it. He never let me down."

She recalled visiting the hospital and praying for her son to be alright.

She said: "What they did was horrific - barbaric. The pain of his loss does not diminish with the passing of time."

Ms Hickey urged anyone with information about Mr Hussain to contact the police.

Mr Hussain, who was born in Paddington and raised in London, lived in Rampayne Street, SW1, and his address was searched four days after the murder, but he was not present.

An arrest warrant was obtained and officers established that Mr Hussain, who was 21 at the time, had travelled to Bangladesh.

The Met is calling on anyone who knows where Mr Hussain is or who is harbouring him to get in touch with the force.

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