SHAQUILLE SMITHRemembering 14-year-old Shaquille Maitland-Smith whose life was tragically cut short when he was stabbed near his home in Hackney, east London on 30 August, 2008.
Shaquille died from stab wounds to his stomach as he sat in a park outside his house. His sister, Tahira, 16, also suffered knife wounds to the face and neck in the attack in St Thomas's Place.
His mother, Sandra Maitland, said her son was a well-mannered boy and had joined the army cadets.
"I wanted him to focus on something productive that gave him self-discipline so if he was to face a situation he would back away from confrontation - he's not a fighter," she said.
Shaquille was the 25th teenager to meet a violent death in the capital between January and August of 2008. He lived in St Thomas's Place with his parents, both social workers, and three brothers and sisters.
His mother paid tribute to him in a statement saying: "Shaquille loved life and his family, including those in Jamaica.
"He spent his young years growing up with his grandmother and other family members.
"Shaquille loved Jamaica...he pleaded with me on a regular basis to let him live in Jamaica."
"Shaquille said to me a week before his death, 'Mum, this has been my best summer, I have really enjoyed myself. Usually I can't wait for it to be over so I can return to school, but this year I want to stay at home and have more fun'.
"Shaquille was special to us... there is nothing bad I can say about him. He was only 14. He was just happy."
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