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Please help us find our son's killer

Ben Rooth
26/10/2007

THE grieving family of a man who was knocked down and killed a year ago have made an impassioned appeal for information about his murderer.

David Lees, 23, died in hospital on Saturday, October 28, 2006, after he was deliberately hit by a Vauxhall Vectra on Middleton Road, Prestwich.

The car - registration number T313 NCR - was driven by a man wearing a hooded top.

David, a self-employed brick cleaner, was out with friends for the first time since his 19-year-old brother, Paul, had died from a long-standing illness seven weeks previously.

His parents, Don and Anne Lees, of Heathbank Street, Blackley, say that they are unable to grieve properly for David until his killer is caught and sentenced.

Mrs Lees, 48, said: "There are people living in this community who know who killed our son - and I'm begging them to tell the police who did it and make a full statement.

"They would be wanting answers if it was their son or brother who had been killed in this way. My husband and I do not have a life at the moment and we just want justice and closure."

Mr Lees, 49, a joiner, said: "Every day is a day of sadness. But, one day, we hope we will get a phone call from the police to say that someone has been charged.

"The whole family intend to go to his graveside on the anniversary of his death and say a few words to him."

David's girlfriend, Brooke Clarke, 22, from Blackley, said that she has struggled to come to terms with his death.

"We were planning our lives together when he died and even talking about marriage - that has all gone," she said.

"I just want justice so that both myself and David's family can all grieve properly."

Detectives have made extensive inquiries into the murder, but still need to trace who was driving the Vectra which knocked David down.

As previously reported in the M.E.N., the car's registered owner, Arfan Javed, from Longsight, was sentenced to two years at Bolton Crown Court in August for perverting the course of justice by not telling the police the driver's name.

Anyone with information about the murder should ring the police on 0161 8564711 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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