Jimmy parents call for 'respect'

Jimmy died in an attack at a bakery in south-east London

The parents of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen have said society has reached a "critical stage" and people needed to show "simple respect" for one another.

Jimmy died in an attack at a bakery in Lee, south-east London, last month, the 13th of 16 teenagers killed in London this year. His funeral is on Friday.

His father Barry said society could get "so much worse" unless we "recalibrate our lives and how we want to live".

His mother Margaret said: "It is about the old meaning of the word respect."

'Very calm'

Jimmy, 16, bled to death from a head injury at the bakery on 10 May.

His parents said they had been comforted by their Catholic faith and hundreds of messages of support since their son's death.

"I still don't feel angry because I do feel that from anger comes anger," Mrs Mizen told BBC One's Sunday Life programme.

"There is so much anger around and I honestly believe it breeds bitterness. That's why I feel very calm."

I do feel in my heart that things are going to change for the better, otherwise all this has been in vain Margaret Mizen

She said that she recently found a book which had belonged to Jimmy, in which he wrote "You do not have to like everybody, but you do have to respect them."

Mrs Mizen said: "Jimmy did have respect for people - I'm talking about the old traditional way of respect."

Mr Mizen said: "If we look at society as a pendulum swinging, it has reached a critical stage with Jimmy.

"Does it carry on swinging and we reach the point of no return or do we recalibrate our lives and how we want to live?"

He added: "We are under so much pressure unnecessarily. It is about values and the family which can come in all shapes and sizes."

Mrs Mizen added: "I do feel in my heart that things are going to change for the better, otherwise all this has been in vain."

Last month more than 500 people attended a memorial service for Jimmy.

An apprenticeship scheme has been set up in Jimmy's name by Southwark Council and his parents are raising funds to buy a vehicle for their local scout group and parish.

Jake Fahri, 19, from Lee, has been charged with his murder.

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