The mother of a young man gunned down in Brent said she has given up on finding justice on the 13th anniversary of his death.

Brent & Kilburn Times: The annual peace march took place in Brent from 2004 to 2009The annual peace march took place in Brent from 2004 to 2009 (Image: Archant)

The killer of Kavian Francis-Hopwood, from Dollis Hill, has yet to be caught after he was shot dead on the Stonebridge Estate on April 2, 2003.

His brutal murder took place outside Donovan Court in Exton Crescent, the day after a gun amnesty was rolled out across the country.

Despite the killing taking place within the view of more than 100 flats, in the now demolished housing block, no witnesses have ever come forward.

Patsy Hopwood-Clarke, Kavian’s mother, told the Times: “Whoever killed my son can run but he can’t run forever.

“If I am to be honest I have given up on finding justice for my son but I don’t want him to be forgotten.

“Someone out there knows who killed my son. It is now 13 years and maybe they have changed their lifestyle and have been carrying this burden around.

“Now is the time to talk.”

Since her son’s death Mrs Hopwood-Clarke, a committed Christian, has campaigned passionately against gun crime and established an annual peace march in 2004 which took place in Brent for five years.

“It took me seven years to talk about Kavian without crying,” the mother-of-four said.

“All Kavian’s siblings are still struggling with his death especially his brother.”

Three months after Kavian died his daughter Takiela was born.

Speaking about her granddaughter, who is the oldest of her six grandchildren, Mrs Hopwood-Clarke said: “She is obsessed with her father and looks at his pictures and talks about him all the time.

“We have been open with her so she knows her father was murdered.

“She has his features and has given me some comfort after Kavian did.

“But my greatest comfort comes from Jesus Christ.”

Yesterday, Mrs Hopwood-Clarke visited Kavian’s grave at Willesden Cemetery on the anniversary of his death.

“He would be 35 on June 5,” she said.

“But I can’t think about what he would be like now because I find it heartbreaking.

“I just know he is at peace and is resting unlike the person who killed him as they can never rest.”

Anyone with information about Kavian’s murder should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.