Schoolboy Jessie James 'shot dead by gangsters' » Communities » 24dash.com

Schoolboy Jessie James was shot dead by gangsters because he refused to join a gang, his mother told the inquest into his death today.

Barbara Reid told the court Jessie had "humiliated" gangsters in Moss Side by refusing to become one of them.

In a statement Ms Reid read to the court she said her 15-year-old son was blasted to death because he stood up to them.

The youngster was killed after being blasted three times as he rode his mountain bike through Broadfield Park in Moss Side, Manchester, in the early hours of September 9 last year.

Ms Reid told the court: "Little did I know the gangs made Jessie's life a living hell.

"Jessie was cornered, pointed out and intimidated at every opportunity. He was coerced and compelled to join the gang.

"Time and time again up until his death, Jessie humiliated the gangsters to their face by saying no to the gang.

"He said, 'I don't want to be, I don't want to join the gang. All I want to be is Jessie and be everyone's friend'."

Ms Reid added: "This infuriated the gang and because they could not stand Jessie, Jessie's rejection, they killed him.

"I am told Jessie showed incredible strength when challenged by the gangsters who took his life because they could not stand a 15-year-old boy's rejection."

Ms Reid made the statement on the second day of the inquest into Jessie's death.

Nigel Meadows, coroner for the city of Manchester, has taken the highly unusual step of moving the hearing to a criminal court so special measures can be in place to protect witnesses.

Many have given evidence anonymously, behind screens or via a video link with their voices distorted.

It is hoped the hearing will help break down the wall of silence surrounding the murder.

Detectives have promised witnesses they will never be identified if they give evidence at the hearing.

Officers believe people within the community know who the gunman is, but are too frightened to speak out.

Earlier Jessie's mother told the hearing her son was born in Manchester and lived all his life in Moss Side.

He wanted to become an electrician after completing his GCSEs. She described him as having a happy and bubbly personality, a "prince charmer", attractive and graceful like a "lion cub".

Ms Reid said she had no fears for Jessie's safety before his death because he was a humble, likeable boy who had no enemy.

She added: "There will always be an empty void in my heart, Jessie was snatched away from me without me saying goodbye.

"Justice is what I seek and justice is my utmost desire."

Ms Reid said her son was shot repeatedly and "left to die alone like an animal".

She added: "Jessie was brought up in the church, he knows right from wrong, he had a choice, he took that choice and now he's dead.

"His disrespecting the gang, that's all this is."

Later witness F, who refused a summons to come to court to give evidence, was brought before the hearing after being arrested yesterday and held in custody overnight.

Again this witness gave evidence via a video link from another building with his voice distorted.

Witness F, 18, told the court, "I heard gun shots coming from the park. I could hear them echoing. There was five or six bangs, maybe more."

The witness denied seeing anyone in the area or youngsters on bikes.

Coroner Nigel Meadows reassured the witness he could not be identified and asked if he knew "anything more" about the murder.

Witness F replied: "I didn't see nobody."

Mr Meadows later found the witness to be in contempt of court by refusing to attend yesterday and adjourned the contempt matter until September 3.

The coroner then "invited" the witness, who is unemployed, to make a "voluntary donation" of £25 to a charity of Ms Reid's choice by September 3.

If he does so, Mr Meadows said, he would "reflect" on the matter to see if any further penalty was necessary.

Copyright Press Association 2007

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