A MUM is urging the public to break their silence and help police to catch the killer of her teenage boy.

Detectives investigating the murder of 18-year-old Wahab Zaaki, who was stabbed to death in Prospect Hill, Walthamstow, on March 14 have not convicted a suspect and are issuing another appeal for information.

The teenager’s mum, Barkis Damda, of Old Church Road, Chingford, said: “Lots of people must know what happened but are not willing to tell the police. I don’t know what we can do.

“I feel I must appeal to parents, to urge them to come forward if they know anything because I don’t think that any parent deserves what is happening to me right now.

“I plead with you. We have to stop these murders.”

The senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Inspector Phil Rickells, has confirmed that on the evening of the murder, Mr Zaaki had been hanging around in Walthamstow with a large group of young teenagers aged between 14 and 18, some of whom had been drinking alcohol.

A fight then broke out between some of the group in stairwell 13 of Atlee Terrace, a block of flats in Prospect Hill.

DI Rickells said: “We know that people then left the area immediately and that the stabbing occurred.

“The victim staggered from there 50 yards and was found by members of the public.”

London Ambulance were called at 11.30pm and took Mr Zaaki to hospital, but he was prounounced dead en route. A post mortem later concluded that he died from chest injuires.

DI Rickells said that it is possible that Mr Zaaki knew his killer and that there may be more than one person who is responsible.

He said that an item belonging to Mr Zaaki has also not been found. It is a black Oyster card wallet, which had two photographs inside, one of his seven-year-old sister and one of his sister who is a toddler.

DI Rickells said: “I would like anyone with information as to people who were in that stairwell at that time to come forward.

“The community is being very cooperative and we have done some extensive house to house enquiries, but I am particularly appealing to some of those locals who were in the area at that time, or their parents, to come forward and tell the police or Crimestoppers.”

The officer said that he is pursuing several lines of enquiry including the possibility that the murder could have been motivated by territorial issues among other possibilities.

A 17-year-old was arrested hours after the murder. He remained in custody until last Thursday when he was released without charge. DI Rickells said the teenager still forms part of the enquiry.

A Muslim funeral service was held for Mr Zaaki, a former Waltham Forest College student, on Saturday, March 28, at the East London Mosque in Whitechapel. Up to 200 family members and friends attended and the teenager was later buried in the Gardens of Peace in Hainult.

Anyone with information is asked to call 8345 1570 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.