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Who killed Gavin?

1/ 8/2002

THE parents of a murdered teenager have appealed to Asians in Oldham to search their conscience and come forward with information that could bring his killers to justice.

Lorraine and Gary Hopley spoke of their despair and frustration after police announced that eight Asian men originally accused of murdering their son Gavin would now only face charges of violent disorder.

Gavin was beaten to death last February when he and a friend wandered into the Glodwick area of Oldham after a night out. After suffering a gang attack the 19-year-old was treated in North Manchester General Hospital's intensive care unit where he died two days after the incident.

The Hopleys say they are "mystified" why there has been no charge of murder levelled against anyone.

"Somebody knows something but for some reason they are not prepared to speak," said Mrs Hopley. "Perhaps fear stops them pointing a finger at one of their own," she added.

The couple say they are not "eye-for-an-eye" people and have done all in their power to stop their son's death from becoming a divisive racist issue.

"We have never been that way inclined," said Mr Hopley. "I have Asian friends, Lorraine works with members of the ethnic minorities she regards as friends and Gavin had Asian friends."

The Hopleys have even rejected newspaper and TV pleas for pictures of their son. The reason? "We don't want the National Front or the BNP to turn Gavin into a martyr. His name is already on the NF website and we do not like that."

The murder of Gavin was a second terrible tragedy for the Hopley's. Their youngest son Dean died a cot death when he was five months old. Little wonder they tend to be overprotective towards their 17-year-old son Stephan who is still struggling to come to terms with the death of Gavin.

Police in Oldham say they are still investigating the case and seeking information about the killing. They changed the charges against the eight men, and dropped all charges against two other men, on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service who said there was not enough evidence to win a murder case against the accused.

Information can be given to Oldham police on 0161 856 8952. Anyone wishing to speak Urdu can ring 0161 856 3011 or in Bengali on 0161 856 3012.