Family plead for help to find killer of motorbike teenager speared through head with a shard of wood

 
Brain pierced: Tommy Warde was hit as he rode pillion in Orpington two years ago
23 August 2013
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The family of a teenager who was speared through the head with a shard of wood as he rode pillion on a motorbike today appealed for help in breaking down a “wall of silence” surrounding the killing.

Tommy Warde, 17, died after the piece of wood penetrated his skull and “pierced deep into his brain” in the attack in Orpington two years ago.

He was on the motorbike with a friend when they passed a group of men who had been drinking and who began throwing cans at them.

Tommy’s friend said he remembers the teenager suddenly falling backwards from the bike and landing in the road. He turned and saw him lying there with the shard protruding from his head.

As Scotland Yard announced a £20,000 reward for information today, Tommy’s father Declan, a construction foreman, said: “We just want someone to come forward and say who did this.

“It was cruel and heartless what they did to my son.

“Our family have been left completely devastated, my wife suffered a heart attack after it happened and now has a pacemaker.

“It is two years on and the man who did this is still walking around, it is not right. ”

He said Tommy and his friend had just bought the motorbike which they were wheeling down Star Lane when they came across the group.

The two boys felt uncomfortable so they decided to ride the bike along the road to avoid the men. Neither boy had a crash helmet with them. Tommy was taken to hospital and underwent surgery but never recovered consciousness. Two days after the attack, with his family at his side, doctors turned off his life support.

Detective Sergeant Simon Bell, who is investigating the case, said: “It has been two years since that August afternoon that ended in tragedy for Tommy and his family.

“We know that there were a large group of people who were gathered in Star Lane that day. They will have seen what happened and be able to identify the person responsible. The police investigation encountered a wall of silence that has remained over the last two years.

“Now that time has passed I am hopeful that someone may now feel that they can now come forward and speak out and help us to bring Tommy’s killer to justice.”

In February last year John Vincent, who had been charged with Tommy’s murder, was acquitted after his trial at the Old Bailey was discontinued.

Anyone with any information should call 020 8721 4906 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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