Family of man killed seven years ago launch fresh appeal to solve murder

The family of a young man murdered on a housing estate seven years ago are launching a fresh appeal to find his killer or killers.

They have also lodged a complaint to the IOPC (the Independent Office of Police Conduct) against the Met Police for what they say was a failure to conduct a thorough investigation and ‘cultural or ethnic bias’ in tackling the crime.

They have enlisted the help of Crimestoppers, which is putting up a £20,000 reward for any information it receives which leads to a conviction.

Ola Raji was just 20 when he was found by passers-by on the East Surrey Grove estate in Peckham not long after the attack, thought to be sometime between 10.15pm-10.30pm on April 21, 2015.

He had been watching a football match – he was a keen player himself – with one of his neighbours when he received a phone call which apparently prompted him to set off on his bicycle towards the estate.

Police believe he was attacked by two people near the Damilola Taylor Centre, the youth centre named after the 10-year-old killed nearby, in 2000.

A post-mortem examination found Ola died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Although a 24-year-old man was later arrested, no charges were ever brought.

Ola’s sister, Ruki Ware, said: “He was a humorous and caring young man we miss more and more with every day that passes.

“He was a kind-hearted and warm young man trying to figure out things to do. He wanted to start a business. He had his life cut short before he had a chance to fulfil all that potential.

“He lived with our mum, Lola, who is forever heartbroken and has not been the same person since it happened.

“We are making this appeal but she is not involved in it as matter of self-preservation because it would be just too painful for her.”

“Ola came from a very close-knit family who have been left devastated and grief-stricken.

“We continue to keep his memory alive by sharing stories and pictures of him, particularly to his nephews, whom sadly Ola never got to meet.

“Although nothing can ever bring him back, the pain of his loss is made so much worse because we have so many unanswered questions about what exactly happened that night and haven’t secured justice for him.

“We know there are people who know what happened that night.

“We won’t be at peace until Ola’s killers are brought to justice.”

Ruki is working alongside Ola’s other sister, Zainab, to try and revive a case that has gone cold, much to the frustration of the siblings.

Zainab said: “We believe the investigation did not meet the standards we had a right to expect and that there was ‘cultural bias’ because of Ola’s ethnic background.”

Ruki said: “We were promised by the Met Police that an internal review team would look at it again but that was three years ago.

“We’ve had no real contact with them for several years.”

The Met Police said it would not be making a comment at this stage, ahead of the Crimestoppers appeal.

Information can be passed online via Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling freephone 0800 555 111.

Pictured top: Ola with Ruki