Thursday, March 28, 2024

The heartbroken family of Leeds murder victim Jamie Meah have spoken about how his baby son faces growing up without a father, a year on from his death.

Jamie had only just turned 18 years old when he was stabbed and fatally wounded in an incident in Hall Lane, Armley, on March 31 last year. A 16-year-old boy was also stabbed and seriously injured in the attack.

Detectives from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are continuing to appeal for information to help locate four men they have previously named as wanted over his murder.

Aquade Jeffers, Caleb Awe, Enham Nishat, all now aged 21, and Ranei Wilks, aged 22, all from Leeds, are believed to have fled abroad shortly after the incident, before they were identified as suspects. Enquiries showed they had initially travelled to Liverpool before leaving the country.

All four are wanted over Jamie’s murder and for the attempted murder of the 16-year-old victim.

On Easter Sunday, it will be exactly a year since Jamie’s death and his family have spoken for the first time of their loss.

In a statement released to mark the anniversary, his family said: “We are still absolutely devastated that Jamie has been taken from us so cruelly and unfairly.

“Every single day over the last year has been so painful for us all, as we struggle to come to terms with what has happened.

“Jamie’s son was born in November last year and now faces his future growing up without ever knowing his father, which is something no child should have to live with.

“Jamie was looking forward to being a father, but that opportunity was snatched away by those responsible for his murder.

“We still desperately want to see the people responsible for Jamie’s murder answer for what they have done, and we feel we can’t begin to move on until that has happened.”

Detectives are continuing to carry out extensive enquiries to locate the four suspects and are liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service.  
 
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Damian Roebuck said: “Although a year has now passed since Jamie’s murder, his family understandably remain utterly heartbroken at his death at such a young age and in such violent circumstances.

“We are determined to keep doing everything we can to see that those responsible are brought to justice and that Jamie’s family finally get the answers they need.

“We are still appealing to the public for any information that could assist the investigation, particularly anyone who may have knowledge of the current whereabouts of the four suspects we have named.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact HMET via 101 quoting Operation Plunket, reference 13230180255, or online at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/LiveChat 
 
Information can also be given online via the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/13XM020123L46-PO1
 
Information can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.