The family fighting for justice for father-of-two John Kennedy—whose killer is still on the loose 17 years after his murder in a pub in London’s East End—are holding a memorial vigil to him on Saturday.
They are gathering at Bethnal Green’s Weavers Field Park in Vallance Road at 1pm to mark what would have been John’s 49th birthday.
It is part of their ongoing campaign to gather fresh evidence for the case to be reopened.
“We want to jog people’s memories and consciences,” his sister Gaynor said. “Witnesses must come forward and not be scared.
“It’s not acceptable to stay silent. Letting the killer walk free is rubbing sort into the wound.”
John—brother of Jade Jones, lead singer with Damage—was stabbed at Shadwell’s Railway Arms in Sutton Street on February 8, 1997. The self-employed electrician from Poplar died two hours later in hospital. A man was subsequently arrested, but later released.
The family held a march earlier this year in Shadwell and a rally with 200 supporters which was addressed by Justice Minister Simon Hughes calling for police action.
They continue appealing for witnesses who were in the Railway Arms that night or anyone with information to “do the right thing” and come forward and speak to police.
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