Ashley Hedger

Ashley Hedger, a 16-year-old boy from east London, was murdered on 16 January 2004 in a revenge stabbing on Plashet Road, Upton Park, in Plaistow. 

His friends had attempted to rob a group of Asian youths moments earlier. One of the victims summoned reinforcements from a nearby mosque, and the group chased Ashley (mistakenly identified as one of the robbers) into the doorway of a supermarket.

There, he was punched, kicked, and repeatedly stabbed with a ceremonial dagger. The blade broke off and was left embedded in his right temple. Ashley suffered four stab wounds, including one to the heart, and died in hospital two hours later. 

Mohammed Hai was the main attacker. He believed Ashley had robbed his younger brother and carried out the frenzied attack with the ornamental knife. Hai fled to Pakistan but was later arrested, extradited, and convicted of murder. In December 2005, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Other youths (Mohammed Alim, Raju Rahman, Albab Chowdhury, and Amran Siddik) were initially charged but largely acquitted or had cases dropped.

The killing was a tragic case of mistaken identity and gang-style retaliation in broad daylight on a busy street.

Rest in peace Ashley. You will not be forgotten.