Four youths on trial for murder of Jesuit school student

Godwin Lawrence

An Old Bailey Court has heard how an Old Ignatian was murdered as he tried to protect a friend from a knife attack.

17-year-old Godwin Lawrence, a parishioner of St Ignatius Stamford Hill, in north London, was a member of the Oxford United Football and Education Academy. In March last year, he was out with two brothers when they were attacked by four youths from North London.

The jury at the Old Bailey was played CCTV footage of the incident. Godwin was stabbed once in the heart; he staggered between cars before collapsing on the pavement. He died at the scene.

Preaching at Godwin's Requiem Mass at St Ignatius Church, Stamford Hill, Fr Tim Byron SJ, the Jesuit Chaplain at St Ignatius College, said a decision to reject knives would be a far more fitting tribute to Godwin than flowers on the pavement or messages on a social networking site. 'There will be people today here in church who have carried knives or who are thinking of carrying a knife,' he said. 'I say to you now - in the name of the Lord - Stop! If you really want to honour the name of Godwin: stop carrying knives!'

The trial of the alleged assailants, who all deny murder, continues.

Source: Jesuit Comms/IT