Parents of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen urge Liz Hurley to join fight against London’s ‘killing epidemic’ after her nephew was knifed in street
Barry and Margaret Mizen, whose 16-year-old son was killed in a South East London bakery, say the actress and other stars have a responsibility to to help halt the surge in knife murders
THE parents of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen have urged Liz Hurley to join the fight against London's "killing epidemic" after her nephew was stabbed.
Margaret and Barry Mizen say the actress and other stars have a responsibility to use their "celebrity status" to help curb the surge in knife murders.
Liz's nephew Miles Hurley, 21, and a pal were chased and repeatedly stabbed after a minor prang with a black hatchback in Wandsworth, South West London, last month.
The Hollywood actress, 52, shared a snap of the model's horror injuries and hailed his survival “a miracle”.
It comes as six teens were stabbed in London in a 90-minute bloodbath last night.
Soaring street violence has led to 55 murder investigations and the capital's rate overtaking New York for the first time ever.
Now Margaret and Barry, whose 16-year-old son Jimmy was killed in a bakery in Lee, South East London in 2008, have issued an emotional plea to Liz and other celebs to help the cause.
Margaret told the Sun Online: "She has the power to make a stand and influence lots of young people.
"Whether it’s footballers, pop stars, actors and actresses - I think in a way it’s their responsibility to play a part.
"People will listen to them and they have the finances so don't have to go to the government for funds.
"It would be incredible if we could come together and make a difference to this country which is at the moment is very frightening."
Actress Liz, 52, "liked" a tweet from Margaret in response to a message about her injured nephew.
As the actress "thanked God" that Miles didn't die, Margaret tweeted: "Please use your celebrity status to highlight what is happening on our streets."
Dad Barry, 66, said: "She is in a position to make a difference.
"We would urge you to stand with us and other families who have lost loved ones to street crime.
"Help us do it."
Barry and wife Margaret have dedicated their lives to campaigning to make their community safer following their son's murder at a bakery near their home in May 2008.
Alter boy Jimmy was killed when Jake Fahri, then 19, hurled a glass at him in in Lee, South East London
A shard of glass slashed his neck and he bled to death in the arms of brother Tommy.
Fahri was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years at maximum security Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire.
The Mizens urged police to carry out more stop and search checks to try to halt the murder surge.
Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of Jimmy's murder next month, Barry said: "The way it is going the numbers of deaths will get much, much higher.
"We need to put the brakes on the epidemic now.
“They are shocking figures and the figures are getting as high as the year Jimmy was killed, which was one of the worst on record.”
Fighting back tears, Margaret, said: "Every time you wake up you wonder how many next.
"It's terrifying - we need to stop it happening.
"We’ve lost so many young people, there are so many parents crying, so many friends in shock and the local communities are suffering. I find it incredibly sad and incredibly scary.
"We all need to stand together."
She added: "On the day Jimmy died I went up to my bedroom to get away from everyone to try to make sense of what happened.
"I promised Jimmy we would dedicate our lives to getting peace and come what may we will never stop trying to make it a better world for our young people."
Barry and Margaret, along with their six sons and two daughters aged 18 to 46, have set up three Good Hope cafes in Lewisham as a "haven of peace and safety";.
They have helped cut crime by 30% when it launched in Liverpool in 2011.
The dedicated couple also work with other bereaved parents and visit schools across the country to tell Jimmy's and help create safer communities.
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