Man killed after confronting group of youths about litter

A 23 year-old man has died after he confronted a group of youths who allegedly threw a chocolate bar into his car at a set of traffic lights in south London.

Evren Anil, a computer programmer from Upper Norwood, became the latest casualty in a series of attacks by young people accused of engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Mr Anil, an amateur actor and footballer, was travelling with his sister, Elif, when the attack took place. According to Miss Anil, two youths threw a half-eaten bar of chocolate through the car window at a set of traffic lights.

Mr Anil got out to remonstrate and one of the youths allegedly produced a knife and held it to his throat. A passer-by tried to intervene but Mr Anil was struck in the face and fell to the ground suffering a heavy blow to the head.

Miss Anil insisted that her brother had done nothing to provoke the attack. She said: "Evren just asked why they had thrown the chocolate but one of the boys just pulled out his knife, pushed him and then threatened him. He held the knife to his throat and then punched him. Evren fell on the ground and banged his head".

Mr Anil lay on the ground for five minutes before he managed to pick himself up and sit in the car, said his sister. But he began to be sick and fell unconscious.

He was taken to King's College Hospital but fell into a coma and died on Monday after eight days. His brother Bulent said: "Was his life so cheap that he has to die over a chocolate bar? He was a kind boy who would never hurt anyone. He just loved people, I just can't accept what happened."

The youths involved, described as black and aged about 18, were seen running off into the nearby Central Hill estate. A police station, at Gypsy Hill, is less than 800 yards away.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, heading the investigation, said: " I know for certain that there are people who have witnessed these events and have not come forward and I am asking for those people to assist the family to deal with this horrendous crime".

Mr Lyons went on to say that people should be entitled to challenge the behaviour of yobs. He said: "We have got a 23-year-old university graduate starting his way in life, with a new job and a close-knit family. He challenges their behaviour and this is what happens. People say: 'Why did he get out of the car?' People are entitled to challenge these yobs' behaviour.

"When they produced the knife he tried to get back in the car. Your life is worth more than a chocolate bar."

Mr Anil was brought to London from Istanbul by his family at the age of 3. He lived with his parents in Upper Norwood and went to Harris and Coulsdon Colleges before attending Kingston University, where he achieved a first class degree in computer science. He also tutored maths and science at a Saturday school in Croydon.

Of her brother, Miss Anil added: "He loved kids. He would spend his weekends educating the kids out of the goodness of his heart. He was a great person for society - unfortunately his time was up. Words can't describe the boy. He was an angel. He was my younger brother and my best friend.

"He was so generous. He was a very bright boy. I was so privileged to have a brother like him. I just miss him so much."

Last night, she told BBC London: "What I and my family have been through, I can't describe it. It's very hard, very hard.

"I would not wish this upon anyone else. And this needs to be sorted out."