Michelle McPhillips: ‘It gets harder and harder the longer JJ’s killer is at large’

Michelle McPhillips gives a speech at the 'enough is enough' rally which started in Islington Green yesterday. Picture: Catherine Davison (Image: Catherine Davison)

Michelle McPhillips pleaded for the “wall of silence” to be broken around the night 28-year-old JJ was stabbed to death in Upper Street on February 25.

Yesterday, Michelle gave a rousing speech at the “enough is enough” anti-knife crime rally. She was one of 500 campaigners who marched from Islington Green to Hackney in response to a spike in fatal stabbings across the capital.

Michelle was joined by JJ’s girlfriend, Kennedy, and daughters Lexi, four, and Evie, two – who refused to sit in her pram for the entire march.

Speaking afterwards, Michelle said: “As a mum, it’s getting harder and harder the longer his killer is still out there.

“I am asking the community to help me. I need this wall of silence to be broken. If someone was there that night, any detail – no matter how small – could help us.”

Marchers hold JJ placards at the 'enough is enough' rally in Islington Green. Picture: Catherine Davison (Image: catherine davison)

Of the message in her speech, Michelle said: “We need to work with the authorities. If you go into a hospital and have to tell the doctor the information they need to save a life, you’d do it. So why not with the police?

“One part of my speech was to get people to turn to their left and shake hands with the person next to them. Then turn to their right and shake hands. That took 30 seconds – as opposed to 30 seconds to kill someone with a knife.

“We have to pull together as a community to stop this happening. If you see people gathering and they look like they’re going to cause trouble, don’t walk by. Call the police and possibly stop something terrible happening.”

So far, three men have been arrested on suspicion of JJ’s murder. No one has been charged. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8345 3775