'Life is hell for us': Mother of 18-year-old who was stabbed to death by ... trends now
The mother of an 18-year-old stabbed to death in broad daylight has revealed he was friends with his killer before the horrific murder.
Raymond James Quigley was repeatedly knifed on the streets of Ipswich, in Suffolk, amid rising tensions between two gangs in Norwich.
He had travelled to the town to meet two friends and was set upon as he walked through the streets by hooded face mask-wearing murderers Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell, both 19.
Mr Quigley clutched hold of his torso and staggered into a nearby card shop where he collapsed and bled to death.
His grief-stricken mother Margaret Oakes revealed her son was once pals with Hammett and Howell having grown up in the same area together as she spoke of her life being 'absolute hell' since his killing.
Raymond James Quigley was repeatedly knifed on the streets of Ipswich, in Suffolk, amid rising tensions between two gangs in Norwich
Pictured: Footage shows Joshua Howell chasing Mr Quigley's friend after the attack
'It feels like I'm just existing,' she told the BBC. 'We are never going to be complete again because James is not there.'
Hammett and Howell were both handed life sentences by Judge Martyn Levett who warned as he dished out the punishment that 'gang violence is blighting the historic peacefulness of towns, making them unsafe to visit'.
Hammett, who stabbed his victim repeatedly, was a member of the notorious Norwich-based 3rdside posse.
Meanwhile Howell, who kept Mr Quigley's friends at bay with a machete, was part of the affiliated IP3 crew from Ipswich, also known as the Nacton gang.
Mr Quigley had friends in the rival Norfolk gang called Only The Money, but his mother insisted he was not a member.
Ms Oakes says Hammett started harassing her son 'every time he could' when Mr Quigley decided he 'didn't want to be like him'.
The resentment Hammett felt towards her child grew over the years which was reflected in the force he used in the knifing, she said.
'I think it was very easy for Alfie to do, because before all the gangs he had it in for James anyway,' she says.
'James did not know this was coming to him. He did not go up there for a fight.
'It was in front of him before he realised. He didn't have a chance to defend himself - it is so upsetting to know that.'
Alfie Hammett (pictured) was convicted of the murder of Raymond James Quigley. He stabbed his victim repeatedly and was a member of the notorious Norwich-based 3rdside posse
Joshua Howell (pictured), who kept Mr Quigley's friends at bay with a machete, was part of the affiliated IP3 crew from Ipswich, also known as the Nacton gang
Hammett told he will serve at least 24 years and his accomplice given a minimum of 20 years for the murder in January 2023.
Handing down the sentences, Judge Levett said yesterday: 'This gang violence is blighting the historic peacefulness of towns, making them unsafe to visit.
'Time and time again, I've said in open court that the sentencing remarks of judges need to be reported so the public become more aware about the dangers of knife crime.
'Knife crime has no place in modern society and should not be glorified. These knife crimes bring fear to communities.'
Mr Quigley's mother spoke of her 'devastation' in a victim impact statement.
She said: 'This is something I now have to live with for the rest of my life. I keep seeing the savage injuries inflicted on my son and what I saw cannot be unseen.'
His father, Raymond, added: 'I relive everything in my mind every time I close my eyes – there is no room for people like this in society.
'I will never get over what has happened to my son and will have a lifetime of pain and heartbreak.'
The case is the latest example of 'Wild West Britain', with fearless gang members swaggering around in public with concealed knives at the
