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Cambridge murder probe: Mother of Jesse Nwokejiobi, 17, says he will always be remembered for his ‘love and selflessness’




The mother of Cambridge teenager Jesse Nwokejiobi, who was stabbed to death on Logan’s Meadow, has issued a heartfelt statement in which she speaks about how hard it is to wake up every day without him.

Rita Ofor called the 17-year-old “my anchor, hope, strength, and support system” and says she is “weak and helpless” without him.

Flowers and the letter J left in tribute to 17-year-old Jesse Nwokejiobi, who was killed by a stab wound in Cambridge on November 19, 2022
Flowers and the letter J left in tribute to 17-year-old Jesse Nwokejiobi, who was killed by a stab wound in Cambridge on November 19, 2022

“I watched you take your first life step in stride and the day you called me ‘mama’ marked the beginning of hope and expectation for my handsome son,” she said.

“As you grew older, your light beamed so strong for me and every other member of the family. You rose to your call as the first son, leading and supporting us regardless of the storms of life that emerged eventually.”

In a statement reproduced in full below, she said Jesse would “live on in our hearts” and would “always be remembered” for his “love and selflessness”.

Jesse was killed on Saturday, November 19, by a single stab wound to the chest in an attack that left the community shocked.

Investigators at the scene. Picture: Geoff Robinson Photography
Investigators at the scene. Picture: Geoff Robinson Photography

Two 16-year-olds from South London were charged on Wednesday (November 30) with his murder and made their first appearance at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (December 1). They were remanded to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday (December 5).

A 44-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman from Harston were also arrested this week on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. They have bailed to return to Parkside Police Station in Cambridge on February 28.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the attack at his home in Cambridge at about 11.30pm on November 19, while another 14-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were both arrested at their homes in South Cambridgeshire at around midnight that night. They remain on bail to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough on February 20.

Information can be supplied to the police via the Major Incident Police Portal.

Rita’s statement in full

17-year-old Jesse Nwokejiobi, from Cambridge, and the scene on Logan's Meadow where he was stabbed. Site picture: Geoff Robinson Photography
17-year-old Jesse Nwokejiobi, from Cambridge, and the scene on Logan's Meadow where he was stabbed. Site picture: Geoff Robinson Photography

Tribute to My Son

My dearest son, Jesse Nwokejiobi (Ugochukwum), you were the first fruit of my loins; you taught me how to be a mother and watched me do motherhood in spite of the challenges we are prone to along the path of this earthly sojourn.

I watched you take your first life step in stride and the day you called me ‘mama’ marked the beginning of hope and expectation for my handsome son.

As you grew older, your light beamed so strong for me and every other member of the family. You rose to your call as the first son, leading and supporting us regardless of the storms of life that emerged eventually. You were my anchor, hope, strength, and support system I had and will always have until we meet again.

I love the way to stood by us and blessed us with your beautiful smile until the unfortunate incident that whisked you away from us at a very tender age. At just 17 years of age, you did what grown men could not do; you gave your all in the defence of your family so that we can be happy.

Waking up daily without you is hard; I cannot imagine doing this daily as it seems like a joke even as I write this. However, I am grateful to you, my boy, for all you did for us in your lifetime. And I will not disappoint you in any way; I will trust the Lord God to help me do what you could not do; I will trust the Lord to help me guide your siblings to lead a fulfilled and beautiful life. Even though I am weak and helpless in this estate without you, I will trust God to heal our hearts and I will be strong for you and your siblings.

I will miss your smile, calls, hugs, play, music, help, birthdays, prayers, outings, and everything. My physical time with you is now over, but your memory will live on in our hearts and you will always be remembered for your love and selflessness. Now rest in the bosom of the Almighty until we meet again. We all love you, dearest son,

Mom



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