A man left blind, paralysed and unable to speak after being stabbed six years ago has died prompting a murder investigation.
Jamel Boyce, 22, was knifed in the heart and leg as a 17-year-old during a petty row outside a Sainsbury’s in Clapham, south London on October 14, 2016.
The business student, nicknamed “Smiley” by fellow pupils at St Francis Xavier sixth form college, suffered severe brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
Mr Boyce remained in a permanent vegetative state requiring 24-hour care.
He passed away in a Streatham Hill care home shortly after 5.30am on February 13 this year.
In 2018, an 18-year-old from East Dulwich was jailed for 10 years at the Old Bailey for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
At the time, Jamel’s father Patrick hit out at the attacker’s “disgusting” sentence – saying it sent out “the wrong message” about knife crime.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, his mother Pansy said: “Jamel is a very shy, humble boy who always used to have a smile on his face.
“He is introverted but naturally affable with a kind hearted pleasant demeanour which resulted in him being given the nickname Smiley at college.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 5.34am on Sunday February 13 following the death of a resident at a care home in Uffington Road, Streatham Hill.
“Officers attended and a 22-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was subsequently identified at Jamel Boyce.
“His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
“A post-mortem examination held on Wednesday February 16 gave a provisional cause of death as a penetrating injury to the chest.
“The death is believed to be related to an incident that occurred in Triangle Place, SW4, on October 14 2016, when Jamel was aged 17.”
A second suspect was acquitted of all charges.
