THE parents of CJ Hendricks are devastated a teenager has been cleared of his killing and say they want justice for their son.

Charles Hendricks Snr and his wife Melanie were at the Old Bailey last Wednesday when a 17-year-old was cleared of both murder and manslaughter, despite admitting to the jury that he stabbed their 18-year-old son in the chest twice.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court during the seven-day trial that he had delivered the fatal blows to Mr Hendricks Jnr near Walthamstow Central bus station last August in self-defence, using a knife that the victim had dropped.

The jury were directed by the judge to decide who had been carrying the knife which was used and deliberated for more than eight hours, finally delivering a not-guilty verdict on both charges.

The teenager's parents say they feel the trial was rushed and now they are worried for their other children's safety.

Mrs Hendricks said: “We just want justice. I feel like my son is not at rest because justice has not been done.

“It is like the courts have told youngsters 'go out and use a knife and you will get away with it'. It is like CJ's life wasn't worth anything.”

Mrs Hendricks said her life has been turned upside down since her son's death and she has been on medication to cope with depression and panic attacks.

She was only able to return to Walthamstow a few weeks ago - 11 months since her son's death - and found it very traumatic.

Now they say they are frightened for their 14-year-old son's safety and have given him a stab vest.

They say their family and friends have been traumatised by their son's death.

Mrs Hendricks said: “I am just trying to get through each day. His nephew cries for him.

"It has destroyed many of his friends. And his grandmother sits and looks at his picture crying.

“We have been robbed of a child. CJ had so much in front of him.”

Mr Hendricks said: “It affects the whole family – everyone's lives have changed for the worse.

"How do we get around the problem of knife crime before it destroys another family?”

Mrs Hendricks added: “We are so frustrated that we have done everything we can, worked with police and spoken to young people to stop them from retaliating - yet still no justice.”

Since their son's death, the couple have attended many events about knife crime and met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the Houses of Parliament.

But they believe the existing sentence for carrying a knife is not a deterrent and want it increased before more young lives are lost.