Claudyo in Mornington Crescent 

THE mother of a young knife crime victim has spoken of the impact of a long-running unsolved murder case as she urged witnesses to come forward and break a wall of silence on what would have been her son’s 20th birthday.

Yazakia Jauad is appealed for evidence on Thursday as the Metropolitan Police staked another £20,000 reward for help cracking a stalled murder investigation into the stabbing of Claudyo Lafayette.

He died in Granville Road South Kilburn on July 14, 2023, but was well known around the Ampthill estate and Camden Town where he lived all his life.

Five young men were arrested in the case – but all have been released and are no longer on bail.

Ms Jauad, who said she goes with her family to her son’s grave every Sunday, said: “Easter was a bundle of bittersweet moments. It was lovely to see the family and we nice afternoon and the kids opened their eggs. But there was someone missing. And there will always be someone missing.”

Ms Jauad said this week that she had been shaken by the recent murders in Camden, including the attack on Finbar Sullivan at the top of Primrose Hill.

“That day we were out a family in Regent’s Park, and we were supposed to go to Primrose Hill for the early evening, but ended up going to Hampstead Heath,” she said.

“Can you imagine if we had been there how that would have affected us? There will be so many people who were up there who will be traumatised by what they have seen. It will continue to affect them.”

Over Easter Ms Jauad wrote a poem about the changing seasons and grief. It talks about carrying his absence through the seasons and that “the longest chapter of my life will be written, missing you”.

It reads: “Easter is here again… Quiet and bright. The same way this season always arrives. Like it doesn’t know what it costs and it’s means so much to some many of us. Grief.”

Last year Ms Jauad spoke about the lack of progress in the case and this week said that while she had been assured as much as possible was being done, she had once again been told once to remain “patient”.

She said: “How many times can I hear, ‘please just be patient’? Imagine me telling you ‘I know who killed your son, we are going in the right direction, just be patient’.”

Ms Jauad has kept herself busy attending protests and introducing bleed kits at schools and points in Kilburn and Camden Town.

The New Journal has reported on Ms Jauad’s calls for action and the failure to charge anyone with Claudyo’s murder.

A popular young man around Camden Town, who had been enjoyed woodwork sessions at the Crowndale Centre on the day of his death.

He was just 17 when he was stabbed just after midnight on July 15, 2023, at a ticketed event at a community centre in Granville Road, Kilburn.

Hundreds of people were there last night but no meaningful footage has been found and detectives say no CCTV of the attack could be obtained.

The case will once again feature on Crimestoppers show tonight (Thursday) and yesterday the Met police are relaunched an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who is leading the investigation said: “The investigation into Claudyo Lafayette’s death remains ongoing. Despite extensive efforts by police, those responsible have not been identified and no further arrests have been made.

“Crimestoppers are offering a £20,000 reward for anyone with relevant information or footage which leads to conviction. We urge witnesses to come forward. We will continue our enquiries to get justice for Claudyo’s family.”