Football tournament to be held in memory of Kingsbury murder victim Josh Hanson
Josh Hanson was stabbed to death on October 11 last year - Credit: Archant
The mother of a Kingsbury man who was stabbed to death are holding a charity football tournament to mark the first anniversary of his killing.
Josh Hanson with his mother Tracey and sister Brooke - Credit: Archant
Joshua Hanson was knifed in an ‘unprovoked and motiveless’ attack inside ‘the RE bar’ in Eastcote on October 11 last year.
The 21-year-old was with his girlfriend and pals when his attacker approached him and stabbed him in the neck.
He died at the scene and his murderer is still at large.
Tracey Hanson, Joshua’s grieving mother, has been campaigning vigorously to keep her son’s murder in the limelight and she hope this latest event will highlight the devastating effect knife crime has on victims and their families.
Tracey Hanson, centre, with her daughter Brooke, and other relatives of knife crime victims - Credit: Archant
She told the Times: “All Josh’s friends wanted to get together and do something on the anniversary so we decided to hold this tournament.
“We need to keep going and keep strong until the person who killed Josh is found.”
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Days after the murder, Shane O’Brien was named by police as a suspect and a £20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
The hunt for the 27-year-old has gone international with wanted posters featuring his face posted all over the world thanks to Ms Hanson and her daughter Brooke’s network of friends and the power of social media.
Shane O'Brien is wanted by police (Photo@ Metropolitan Police) - Credit: Archant
To date Ms Hanson has sent out 4,500 posters for people to place around the world.
She said: “I can not believe that someone, somewhere knows something and hasn’t come forward, it is like Groundhog Day seeing the wanted poster and sharing our appeal.
“But we will continue to drive awareness, send out posters, and appeal until justice has been served.”
Following Joshua’s death a fundraising page was set up to pay for his funeral and establish an anti-knife crime charity in his name.
So far it has raised more than £31,000 and Ms Hanson has recently applied for the charity to be registered.
“If it wasn’t for the generosity of the public this would not be possible,” she said.
“The aim of our charity is to go into the community and promote anti-knife crime initiatives including working with schools and raising awareness.
“If we can stop one person from carrying a knife than we have achieved our goal.
“Josh’s death won’t be in vain.”
The Josh Hanson Trust Memorial Football Tournament and Family Fun Day will take place on October 9 at Powerleague pitch in Pursley Road, Mill Hill.
It starts at noon.
For more details visit facebook.com/events/193800987698970/.
Anyone with information about Shane O’Brien’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
