7 October 2002
He was an innocent young man, looking forward to an evening out with his friends.
Scott Young was like thousands of teenagers his age who spend many a Friday night talking about music and girls, followed perhaps by a bag of chips on the way home.
Except on this night he was unlucky enough to be in the same street as two strangers intent on a fight — a coincidence which cost him his life.
The 14-year-old, an outgoing, friendly boy was targeted by Yannick Etutu, a youth three years his senior known to police after court appearances for attempted robbery.
With him in a car cruising through Romford in Essex was Joseph Ogwang, and driver, Roland Monie.
They were looking for someone to pick on and Scott was the ideal target. Etutu and Ogwang jumped out of the car and ran towards Scott, who was with two friends in the centre of town.
After fabricating a story that Scott had bullied the brother of one of them, Etutu punched him in the face. Trying to get away, Scott ran into the road. He was hit by two cars and died almost instantly.
His attackers fled, Ogwang having to take the steering wheel after Monie panicked.
Fortunately, witnesses took the car's number plate and they were arrested.
At the Old Bailey, Etutu was convicted of manslaughter. Ogwang was cleared. The pair had both denied killing Scott on 14 December and blamed each other for landing the blow. Monie was never charged. As Etutu awaits sentence, Scott's parents said they had received justice, but it did little to nullify their pain.
"My only son had gone out for fish and chips that night, and was picked on. Because of that we are left without a son," said his father, Ray. "How do you live the rest of your life without your child?"
Mr Young, 41, wife Kim, 40, and daughter Claire, 13, live in a neat terraced home. On the fireplace are many cards from well-wishers and photographs of a smiling Scott. The teenager had a paper round and was well known to residents of the area. The money helped him indulge his passion for garage music. "He loved to buy CDs," said his sister.
Scott was a pupil at Emerson Park school in Hornchurch where he enjoyed drama and design. "He was a lovely kid," said Mrs Young. "He wanted to do law — he used to say he thought he would make lots of money."
Outside Romford greyhound stadium, where he was killed, is a memorial to Scott. Nine months later, there are fresh flowers pinned to the railings. His school has created an award in his name and a memorial garden.
"So many people knew him," said Mrs Young. "So many people have shown they cared. My memory of him is his smile, and his blue eyes. He had that certain smile — it was enough."
Mr Young struggles with the knowledge that his son died because he acted on his advice — to walk away rather than be provoked. "He was trying to walk away that night. He was scared for his life and he lost his life. We just feel empty."
Source: London Evening Standard