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24/10/2006
Thousands attend funeral of murdered boy
Around 2,000 people have gathered for a “life celebration service” for murdered schoolboy Jessie James today.
The 15-year-old student at the Manchester Academy was shot three times in the city’s Moss Side district, on Raby Street, in the early hours of 9 September.
It is thought the attack may have been gang-related, and Jessie was a victim of mistaken identity.
The ceremony, took place in a specially erected marquee in Broadfield Park, where the teenager was found unconscious after the shooting, and will include tributes from friends and family.
Many friends attended in school uniform, and others wore T-shirts with “RIP Jessie” printed on them, to hear his mother Barbara Reid, 47, read a eulogy and a selection of his favourite CDs.
His coffin was taken by horse-drawn carriage, led by a lone piper, to Manchester’s Southern Cemetery where Seventh Day Adventist pastor, Michael Simpson will conduct a short ceremony at his graveside.
Six of his friends carried the coffin, which was followed by his mother Barbara and her sister Rosemary, 28.
After the service, which will last two hours, Jessie’s coffin will travel two miles for a private burial, led by 15 of Jessie’s friends on mountain bikes.
Jessie, a keen Manchester City fan, described as a “happy, loving God-fearing lad”, was studying for his GCSEs and hoped to be an electrician when he left school.
Police in Manchester are hoping the funeral will prompt those who may have information on the killer, to come forward.
Det Supt Tony Cook, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Someone supplied the gun and bullets, someone heard the offenders talking; someone saw them go into the park and leave.
“Someone saw or heard the killers when they came back discussing what they’d done; someone even knows where the gun is.”
He continued: “If you’re covering for a murderer, ask yourself how you’ll feel when another young victim gets shot and killed. Help us catch Jessie’s killer and put an end to this madness.”
A fund has been set up in Jessie’s name to set up community projects in the Moss Side area.
(JM/CD)
The 15-year-old student at the Manchester Academy was shot three times in the city’s Moss Side district, on Raby Street, in the early hours of 9 September.
It is thought the attack may have been gang-related, and Jessie was a victim of mistaken identity.
The ceremony, took place in a specially erected marquee in Broadfield Park, where the teenager was found unconscious after the shooting, and will include tributes from friends and family.
Many friends attended in school uniform, and others wore T-shirts with “RIP Jessie” printed on them, to hear his mother Barbara Reid, 47, read a eulogy and a selection of his favourite CDs.
His coffin was taken by horse-drawn carriage, led by a lone piper, to Manchester’s Southern Cemetery where Seventh Day Adventist pastor, Michael Simpson will conduct a short ceremony at his graveside.
Six of his friends carried the coffin, which was followed by his mother Barbara and her sister Rosemary, 28.
After the service, which will last two hours, Jessie’s coffin will travel two miles for a private burial, led by 15 of Jessie’s friends on mountain bikes.
Jessie, a keen Manchester City fan, described as a “happy, loving God-fearing lad”, was studying for his GCSEs and hoped to be an electrician when he left school.
Police in Manchester are hoping the funeral will prompt those who may have information on the killer, to come forward.
Det Supt Tony Cook, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Someone supplied the gun and bullets, someone heard the offenders talking; someone saw them go into the park and leave.
“Someone saw or heard the killers when they came back discussing what they’d done; someone even knows where the gun is.”
He continued: “If you’re covering for a murderer, ask yourself how you’ll feel when another young victim gets shot and killed. Help us catch Jessie’s killer and put an end to this madness.”
A fund has been set up in Jessie’s name to set up community projects in the Moss Side area.
(JM/CD)
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