Mother of stabbed British-Lebanese schoolboy Yousef Makki dies suddenly
The mother of British-Lebanese schoolboy Yousef Makki, who was stabbed to death last year, has died of a “broken heart”, her family said.
Debbie Makki, 55, died on Sunday only 14 months after Yousef, 17, was killed after a fight with his friend Joshua Molnar, 18, in the upmarket Hale Barns area of Greater Manchester.
After a trial last year, Molnar was acquitted of murder and manslaughter but was initially jailed for 16 months for possessing a knife and perverting the course of justice.
He was released in February. Mrs Makki had been campaigning for a retrial.
“She hadn’t been the same since Yousef was murdered,” said her daughter Jade Akoum.
“Her heart was broken and the spark in her eyes had gone.”
Ms Akoum said the toll of losing Yousef was “colossal” and her mother’s fight for justice meant she “never found peace”.
“At 4am my beautiful strong mum Debbie Makki peacefully passed away,” she said.
“God rest your soul, at least you are with Yousef now, we told him we needed you here a bit longer but you had to be together!
“We love you so so much. I promise we will keep fighting for justice.”
Mrs Makki’s family said she died in the early hours of Sunday and had been taken to hospital two days previously “after struggling at home”.
“The doctors told us she was critical. She was not strong enough to fight.
“Lockdown isolated my mum from her grandchildren who kept her going and she had too much time to think about the loss of Yousef – and the stark injustice and inhumane treatment of our family that followed.
“She wondered why the families of the boys involved in Yousef’s death have never contacted her and how they could be so cruel. It kept her awake most nights – she literally never slept.
“We were unable to be with her in her last moments, just as we were unable to be with Yousef – but they are together now, which brings us some comfort.
“Our world has fallen apart all over again and we are all in complete shock.”
Makki’s family has criticised the investigation into his death, which was carried out by Cheshire Police and Greater Manchester Police.
Both forces’ handling of the case is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Makki was studying at the prestigious Manchester Grammar School, to which he had a scholarship, when he died on March 2 last year.
He had suffered a stab wound to the heart.