A "significant witness" to the murder of a boy in a south-east London bakery has come forward after a police appeal.
Detectives were keen to trace a white middle aged man who was said to have seen a significant part of the attack on 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen.
Police believe Jimmy had tried to avoid a fight minutes before being killed.
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Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons, leading the investigation, said Jimmy encountered his attacker after going into the Three Cooks Bakery with an older brother.
'Intent on violence'
Mr Lyons said: "The youth, intent on violence, offered him [Jimmy] outside for a fight.
"Jimmy, being the type of man he is, declined that fight, and the aggressor was left outside the bakery.
"Not content with matters ending there, the youth then proceeded to smash down the door of the bakery, shattering the glass.
"He also picked up an advertising board and took it inside the bakery and wielded it around. A fight ensued and Jimmy received a fatal blow to his neck, cutting his throat with some glass.
Mr Lyons described the dead teenager as a person of "immaculate character" and said he had been the "victim of an entirely unprovoked and vicious attack".
Jimmy's parents, Margaret and Barry, who live in Lee, described their son who turned 16 on Friday, as "a wonderful boy".
Mrs Mizen said: "Jimmy was just the sweetest boy you could ever meet."
She said she had no anger for his killer. She said: "I feel for the parents of this boy."
'Wonderful memories'
She added: "I don't know why, I can't get them out of my mind because what's happened to Jimmy is the worst thing possible, but we've got such wonderful memories.
"They haven't got wonderful memories for their son. All they can think about is the evil he's done. My prayers are with the family, that's all I can say. I can't, I don't feel anger."
Earlier on Sunday, family and friends observed a two-minute silence outside Our Lady of Lourdes church, where Jimmy had been an altar boy.
They also laid flowers and read out messages of condolence near the spot where the attack happened.
Jimmy is the 13th teenager to have been fatally attacked in London since the start of the year.
(BBC)
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