WALTHAM FOREST: Murdered teen's family united in grief

7:00am Thursday 28th August 2008

By Mhairi Macfarlane

A GRIEVING mum and dad have spoken of their heartache following the murder of their 18-year-old son, and insisted it was not a “black on black” gang killing.

Charles and Melanie Hendricks said Charles Hendricks Junior, known as CJ, was a “bright” and “funny” young man who would light up any room, and refuted suggestions he was involved in one of Waltham Forest’s notorious street gangs.

CJ, a former Leytonstone School pupil, was one of nine children from his parent’s present and former partners, who lived in a semi-detached house with his parents and two of his brothers in Leytonstone.

On the night he died he had told them he was going to a house party with a friend in Walthamstow. That was the last they saw him before he was stabbed, and became the 24th teenager to be killed violently in London this year.

Surrounded by photos of her handsome son at family weddings, and often referring to him in the present tense, Mrs Hendricks said he was a charming young man who had lots of admirers and would “light up any room”.

She added: “He would help anyone in the world. He was very caring and all the kids loved him. His nephew idolises him and his little cousins love him. We are a very big and close family.”

And while Mrs Hendricks spoke warmly of her son, her husband proudly added under his breath: “That’s my CJ.”

Mr Hendricks Snr, 55, a carer for his wife who is disabled, told the Guardian his son wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a carpenter and since passing a two-year City and Guilds in multi-skilled construction at London Construction Training (LCT) in Blackhorse Lane, he was looking forward to passing his driving test and starting an apprenticeship with Apollo Construction.

Like many teenagers, he enjoyed football, basketball, walking his dogs and listening to music. He also worked as a volunteer at Beaumont Youth Centre in Leytonstone where he helped with activities and day trips for youngsters.

Mr Hendricks Snr denied his son was in a gang but conceded that he had “associations” with gang members from Priory Court and Billet Road and had previously received threats to his life.

He said: “It is not a black on black killing. His college reported to the police about threats he was getting.”

Mrs Hendricks added: “CJ used to prefer to stay in his room with his friends than walking the streets because he was scared for his safety.”

She continued: “They [the media] portray him in the wrong way. He is not in a gang. It is not gang-related. He has never been in any gang.

“It is by association. Just because he talks with people doesn’t mean he is in their business.

“They keep saying black on black crime. But we are a mixed race family, black, white and all.”

This bloody crime has left Mr Hendricks Snr feeling angry that his son didn’t grow up to fulfil his potential and wants to see an end to knife crime.

“We must turn the situation around, not just for my son but for others. The future for the next generation is in jeopardy if we don’t stop it now. Something must be done to help people see sense. The Government aren’t doing their part. They need to influence young kids from a young age. People need a purpose to live,” he said.

His parents said the family were “believers” and that CJ’s bible was always at the side of his bed, and still is.

A skilled artist, he had hand-drawn a design of praying hands, with the words Please Lord, which he was planning to have inscribed as a tattoo. His father now plans to have the design tattooed onto him as a lasting memory.

Operations manager at London Construction Training (LCT), John Divine, said CJ was “a nice lad”, and confirmed the centre had asked police to investigate previous “matters” but would not comment further while the murder enquiry was underway.