The father of a man whose killer was never brought to justice has condemned Leyton Orient’s decision to re-sign a footballer who intimidated a witness to the murder of a teenage girl.
Phil Joslin’s 23-year-old son David died from head injuries eight days after trying to break up a fight in Old Church Road in 2009.
His killer is still at large.
And last week Mr Joslin sent back his Os season ticket after the club re-signed defender Elliot Omozusi – just 14 months after he was imprisoned for intimidating a witness crucial to the jailing of the killers of 16-year-old Agnes Sina-Inakoju in Hoxton during a gang-related dispute.
Mr Joslin, 56, of Friday Hill West, Chingford, said he was “utterly disgusted” by Orient’s decision to give Omozusi a second chance.
He said: “If Omozusi had done this before the trial he could’ve denied this family an answer as to who killed their daughter. That family could have been in the same situation as me.”
Leon Dunkley and Mohammed Smoured were jailed in April 2010 for the death of Ms Sina-Inakoju following evidence from an 18-year-old, who was later chased by Mr Omozusi, then a member of the London Fields gang, and two others on a night out in Liverpool in May 2011.
Mr Joslin added: He said: “I won’t watch Orient while Omozusi is part of that team. They promote themselves as a community club, but gangs destroy communities.
“All the club is saying is that crime does pay.
“I delivered my season ticket back while dropping my son off to the job centre.
“He’s just got a 2.1 degree in incredibly tough circumstances and can’t find work.
“Omozusi walks out of prison to be given a good wage and another chance. I don’t think he deserves it.”
Mr Joslin wrote to Orient chief executive Matthew Porter to express his anger and will donate the money from his refunded season ticket to the National Neurology Hospital, which treated his son.
Mr Porter wrote in the weekend's match programme: "I would like to thank all our supporters who have contacted us with their views on Elliot returning, and I can honestly report that the vast majority have expressed their support for the club giving the player a second chance.
"Clearly it doesn’t sit comfortably with everyone, and we fully respect those opinions too, but I would like to assure people that we have given a lot of thought to this matter and did not take the decision lightly.
"Of course, the management feel that Elliot can be an asset to the squad – he was our young player of the year in 2010/11 – but there is more to consider here.
"Elliot will be working extensively with the club and the Community Sports Programme to continue his rehabilitation by taking part in outreach work where he will meet and speak with young people about the importance of making the right choices in life and not ending up in trouble.
"As a club we believe that he deserves a chance to return to society and will be fully supporting him as he works hard himself to do so.
"We accept that it is up to each individual to make their own mind up on the subject, but it is important for us to clarify our position on the matter from the outset."
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