murder august september england year old english male murdered racially motivated crime death stabbed beaten hammer repeatedly kicked gang pakistani youths incident occurred december unanimously found guilty parker murder sentenced life imprisonment receiving minimum terms ranging years fourth defendant cleared murder parker murder cited example lack attention media society white victims racist attacks compared coverage given ethnic minorities organisations bbc newspaper journalists later admitted failing cover case sufficiently suggested case demonstrates society forced racism longer exclude white victims memorial plaque parker located area football match played year memory background born mother worked father ran car repair business children parker avid football player having completed business studies hoped join police force nicknamed half owing feet inch height twice broken leg previously parker lived area city worked time bar support local public house met girlfriend murder parker murdered shortly friday september walking girlfriend attack took place cycle path alongside boulevard near russell street racial tensions area high september attacks occurred days earlier having finished work early parker walking visit friend house confronted gang pakistani youths wearing planned find white male attack simply white warned parker better start running blocked path quickly sprayed face gas punched stomach stabbed times throat chest foot long hunting knife knife penetrated completely body occasions lying ground repeatedly kicked struck panel hammer ran nearby petrol station help man gave mobile phone police making twice heard parker cry pain chance spotted passing police car entered car guided officer scene assault away minutes time returned parker death gang disappeared murder gang returned garage headquarters knife blood police informed parker family death body remained scene day investigation conducted post revealed parker died result stab wounds inflicted bladed instrument arrests charges parker murder sparked biggest police inquiries history weekend following attack suspects pakistani descent arrested suspicion murder members local community posted reward information leading arrest killers later increasing number arrested recorded chanting cells transported police van detective chief inspector overseeing case praised city muslim community involvement capturing murderers september appeared court charged parker murder charged following day march defendants released police bail parker sister stated begin allowed prison stage parker family concerned decision wrote letter complaint home secretary refused comment case men remained free bail trial november ali stood trial parker murder pleading guilty ran recruitment company previously attended city school unofficial police informer court told thought gangster fantasy knives close friends married month prior murder son educated worked factory later restaurant known childhood ali attended married wife left trial given reference trial deputy mayor labour_party councillor stating known caring responsible owned restaurant business king week trial covert police recordings suspects discussing attack submitted evidence conversations took place police vehicles suspects arrested translated heard describing parker death blow knife split neck open heard discussing statements given police plan court told exchange prison described killing parker detail contents letter written presented stated pray forgiveness jury heard murder weapons found shed house bags clothes dna belonging found hunting knife parker blood found hammer knife blood found clothes accused dna told marks parker body matched hammer found shed recovered property containing traces parker blood younger brother told court seen brother cleaning murder weapon night killing witnessed defendants blood clothing witnesses reported admitting beating admitting kicking parker recalling stabbing witness saw defendants kicking parker court admitted seeing victim lying ground attempting spray gas kicking acknowledged washing murder weapon stated ali hit parker hammer knife alleged prosecution witnesses involved attack admitted present murder scene claimed blood found trousers occurred result accidentally falling parker ali defended denied scene claimed asleep time murder recording police van indicated story encouraged stick denied present claimed home playing playstation brother defending summarised crime stating people taking night air member group knew going weapons selected set knife far big hidden doubt hunting party looking victim december ali found guilty murder unanimous judge summarised murder sentencing heads purpose attacking innocent man find chance simply different race racist killing kinds killing judge concluded knife group intended kill received life sentences serve minimum years cleared murder post trial appeals trial revealed previously cautioned threatening behaviour fined resisting arrest labour politicians provided ali references later jailed relation vote rigging appealed jail terms january original sentences upheld judge said taken account moving statements parker family ali appealed sentence july sentence upheld appeal ali continued deny guilt murder davis true remorse lacking appeals parker father suggested killers son freed noted crime occurred likely significantly higher minimum terms imposed perpetrators owing reforms criminal justice act reforms recommend minimum term years racially aggravated murder reporting media criticised lack coverage parker case comparison similar racially motivated murders occurring killings bbc later admitted mistake report case extensively noting stark parallels walker case suggesting story news conviction killer noted bbc story crime worthy coverage standards expressed similar sentiments criticised newspapers including employer sun stated believe victim ethnic minority white editors liberal scared seen moving right paper parker mother expressed similar concerns white victims race crime ignored said white english didn coverage adding don count times investigation examined british newspaper archives coverage racist crimes finding total boycott stories involving white victims attacks cases involving black minority ethnic victims widely reported noted lack coverage simply media issue spokesman race issues said lot police officers professionals feel best thing try avoid discussing attacks fear criticised healthy suggests lack police appeals cases involving white victims cause lack media coverage evidence seen parker case police initially appearing keen dismiss possible racist aspect murder stating reason believe attack racially motivated newspaper covered parker murder extensively faced criticism east england produced report examining race relations document suggested history coverage case possibly adding climate racial communal unrest criticism paper rejected senior police officer asian community leader praised handling case leader suggested accusation unfair impact parker murder led increased racial tensions school asian pupils suspended attack caribbean pupil relative victim attacked asian teacher number taxi firms stopped work early days attack fear november home secretary banned marches months feared violence caused anti nazi league national sought hold protests day parker death major impact family mother unable work months parker funeral came close attempting suicide number occasions parker room left largely untouched years incident parents reluctant described room place feel close ross legacy result murder parker local authorities set unity scheme gang members different communities trained youth workers ease racial tensions reduce violence problems persisted racist graffiti painted near murder scene years incident reading area whites death whites cite parker case demonstrating society forced racism erroneous definition prejudice plus power definition view tended allow ethnic minorities victims whites perpetrators condemned double standards racial equality relation case suggesting black activists march remember victims like stating values worthless victims deaths matter equally went write treat victims worthy condemnation betrayal anti racism tributes parker funeral took place october attended number football shirt coffin teammates formed guard honour dressed strip kit reverend described parker beacon light inspired people extremely popular young man murder received little attention politicians member parliament statement house_of_commons sending parker family paying tribute community particular parker school described parker killers men older tributes echoed plaque installed memorial parker memorial located football team mates friends play match memory formed team called ross rangers rose bush planted parker family home remembrance
Murder of Ross Parker