Gang fear as witness tells of killing

A BOY of 14 was “butchered in silence” after three knifemen rammed him off his moped and stabbed him as he lay unconscious, a shocked witness said.

Police are probing whether Jayden Moodie’s brutal murder on Tuesday evening in an apparently planned attack was part of a gang turf war.

Witnesses said the killers’ car hit him so hard his helmet was sent flying 10ft. One said: “I heard a massive noise and went outside. The boy was under the wheels.

“Three men got out and stabbed him six times. He was already unconscious. There were three. They each had a kitchen knife.

“They butchered him in silence. I ran to save him but it was too late. He was so young. It was horrific.”

It is not clear why Jayden was on a moped, which had been reported as stolen, as the minimum age to ride one is 16. A source said the suspects are black, adding: “The violence was horrific.”

Last night police recovered a black Mercedes B-Class they believe was used in the attack. Detectives called it “a significant development” and a source added: “It is hoped the killers will be identified from the material left in the vehicle.”

Jayden, a talented boxer, had only been living in Waltham Forest, East London, a few months after moving from Arnold, Notts, with his mum.

Uncle Josh Grant said: “I told him he’d have to behave down there, the kids are different. It’s not right, the world is messed up.” Godmother Zoe Grant, who lives in Nottinghamshire, said Jayden was a “good kid”, adding: “He went to London and this happens – it’s just so unfair. There needs to be more policing. The violence is out of hand.”

Mark Radford, 50, a former neighbour in Arnold, said: “The family moved at the beginning of November. Jada ( Jayden’s mother) went there to look after her mum, who was quite ill. You can’t imagine how Jada must feel.”

A local in the Beaumont Estate, near the murder scene, claimed it was part of a turf war between Beaumont and Oliver Close gangs.

He said “younger and younger” children are being recruited.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker said it was too early to say what the motive was, adding: “The overriding factor is he’s 14 years old. A lot of people are saying ‘young man’ – he’s not. He’s a boy.”

Meanwhile, in another attack yesterday two roads from where Jayden died, a man was beaten with bats and slashed in the face. Police said it was too early to speculate if it was linked to Jayden’s killing. WITNESS ON SHOCKING NATURE OF THE ATTACK

Three men stabbed him six times. He was already unconscious