The following is from the Impact Statement for the Court written by  Buster's mum:-

Buster was born on 31 March 1990 at 11.03 am, the third of my four children, a brother for his two older sisters.  We are a close family and his sisters and grandparents doted on him. 

He was a happy child, always up to harmless mischief, very energetic and lively, and he had an innate sense of justice and fairness.  From a young age he was very protective of me and he was a loving boy, he was always buying me little presents - ornaments, teddies and flowers - with money he had saved.  We always thought the world of each other, we were so close.

As Buster grew older he developed into a quieter but still loyal, loving and generous son.  He had a great sense of humour and seemed very content with his life.  He loved his dog Mitch, listening to music and watching films, playing football with his friends, cooking for the family, playing games on his computer and reading Harry Potter books.  

His headmaster later said of him that he was “an extremely popular and well-liked student who approached life with a ready sense of humour and a big smile”.  

Although Buster was a teenager he would still give me a quick kiss on the cheek and say ‘Love you mum’ whenever he went out.   He spent most evenings at home but had recently started going out on a Friday night with his friends.  I always worried when he went out but he was 16 and starting to be independent, he had lived in the area since he was two years old, he got on with everyone,  wasn’t aggressive or violent and had never been in trouble with the police.

 At the end of June he completed his education at Bexley Business Academy.  He was about to embark on the next stage in his life and we were concentrating on his future and making plans.  He had his whole life ahead of him.  He had decided he wanted to work in the construction industry and was applying for an apprenticeship, he filled in all the forms himself and was waiting to hear back. 

In the afternoon on 14 July Buster went out to play football with his friends, as I watched them from the window I thought how tall and handsome he had grown and felt very proud of him.  He went out again later that evening to visit a friend, I didn’t know it would be the last time I would ever see my son happy, healthy and well.  I telephoned him later to ask what time he would be back and he said “Soon”.  I told him not to be long then and he said “I love you Mum”.  I did not know they would be the last words he would ever speak to me.  I said “Love you too Bust” and I waited for him, I didn’t know he would be stopped from ever coming home again.

The next time I saw my son he was collapsed in the street just yards from our house.  He was covered in blood, there was blood everywhere, so much blood.  There are no words to adequately describe the feeling of utter shock, fear and hopelessness that completely overwhelmed me when I saw my son lying on the floor, obviously terribly, terribly injured, literally fighting for his life.  

There was so much blood I thought he had been stabbed several times but the blood was pouring from one huge, gaping wound to his neck.  He was so terribly injured that deep down in my heart I could see he might not survive but I kept telling him to stay with us, that the ambulance was coming, that it would be all right, to stay with us.  No-one should ever have to see their child like that, a thousand times a day those images come into my mind, I can’t describe the pain, I have to try to block them out.

I cannot understand why such evil crossed his path that night.  I have always taught my children to respect all life and not to harm others.  These values are pointless in the face of thugs who have no morals or respect for anyone’s life. This group of thugs, who armed themselves with weapons, ran out of a dark alleyway, and hellbent on violence launched a vicious attack.

Buster must have been so frightened, he must have known he was severely injured and been terrified.  He tried to run home.  I don’t know how he managed to run so far before he collapsed.  I know he was trying to get home to safety, to me, for help.  He didn’t make it home but I believe he did know I was there, knew that I was with him as he died.

My child died within just a couple of minutes of being attacked.  A neighbour who was giving First Aid then resuscitated him twice but I know my son had gone before the ambulance arrived.  The ambulance staff could not resuscitate him again.  I kept asking if there was any sign but each time they just shook their heads. I kept thinking ‘this time, this time’ but my son had gone.

Buster was an uncle for just three weeks before he was brutally taken from us, his niece will never know him now, won’t even remember him.  Her future has been changed for the worse, she has been denied all the advantages of having him in her life and of all the good things he would have brought to it, she has been deprived of his love, and his care and protection, and of all the happy times they would have shared. 

The murder of Buster has greatly shocked his friends, and our community where he was so popular.  Everyone says to me they cannot understand why this happened to Buster, that he was good-natured, didn’t cause trouble and was always polite.  

I don’t know how I would have got through just one day without the incredible support given by family, friends and neighbours, my whole community and strangers near and far – their kindness, compassion and generosity has been an enormous comfort to me, they have helped me to get though each day and every day I am grateful to them all for all their help, there are no words to thank them enough.