Mother of Stabbing Victim Describes Ordeal as “Never-Ending Nightmare”

The mother of a student who was fatally stabbed by his housemate has described her experience as a “never-ending nightmare”. Shira Javaid stated that she remains “numb” nearly a year following the murder of her 19-year-old son, Sachin Hawkins, by Syed Hussain-Kazi at their shared residence in Hull. Her comments were made to the BBC in support of the introduction of a police initiative aimed at combating knife crime. She further stated, “The grief and emotional damage you do cannot be reversed. Don’t let a blinding moment of anger destroy everyone’s lives.” The Humberside Police initiative, titled What’s the Point, has been launched after six fatalities involving knives occurred within the force’s jurisdiction over the last 18 months. This campaign coincides with a warning from an emergency medicine consultant, who cautioned that the distinction between inflicting a minor injury and a severe one with a knife is merely “blind luck”. Andrew Blackmore, affiliated with Hull Royal Infirmary, noted that an excessive number of young individuals were being hospitalized with stab wounds, and this situation was impacting the mental well-being of healthcare personnel. Mr. Hawkins succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed in the chest at the residence on Hardy Street on 15 November 2023. Hussain-Kazi, aged 25, assaulted him using a 6in (15cm) kitchen knife subsequent to a dispute concerning music. Ms. Javaid, a resident of the US, characterized her son as “such a fun” and “happy” individual. She stated, “He was the most caring person that you ever met.” She continued, “Next month is going to be one year since Sachin passed away. Every day I wake up and I think this cannot be real.” She questioned, “I can’t believe that someone took my son away, and for what?” The perpetrator had a prior conviction for a knifepoint street robbery in 2019, and it was revealed at Hull Crown Court that he possessed “a fascination for knives”. Ms. Javaid is currently advocating for background and mental health assessments for incoming students. Dr. Blackmore commented that individuals who carry blades jeopardize not only their own lives but also the lives of others. He stated, “If you stab somebody else, you have no real control on the injuries you can cause,” adding, “You may not mean to kill someone, but it can happen.” He further explained, “It depends on where somebody has been stabbed and what path that blade has taken.” “The person wielding that blade has no real control over that,” he emphasized. He cautioned that medical personnel frequently witness the unforeseen repercussions of knife crime. Support for staff was available after “big, traumatic” incidents. He concluded, “It does have quite a psychological effect on people.” Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that over 50,000 knife crime offenses were reported in England and Wales during the 12 months leading up to March 2024, with 900 of these occurring within the Humberside force’s jurisdiction. The Humberside Police campaign receives support from numerous bereaved families, including the relatives of Tom Gaughan, 32, who was stabbed during an evening out in Cleethorpes in July last year, and Jack Howes, 29, who sustained fatal knife wounds and was found dying in a Grimsby street. Detective Superintendent Al Curtis, who is spearheading the initiative, noted that the majority of knife incidents involved common household objects, employed “as a result of momentary madness,” leading to “deadly consequences.” He further urged, “Whether you find yourself in a confrontational situation at home, or are thinking about carrying a knife for your protection, ask yourself, ‘what is the point?’ One knife impacts more than one life.” He encouraged individuals to surrender knives as part of Operation Sceptre, the nationwide knife amnesty, commencing on 11 November. As a component of the campaign, the families have shared their experiences for a compelling film. Sarah Kellaway, a paramedic who attempted to save Mr. Hawkins, has also participated. She characterized Mr. Hawkins’ demise as “the most pointless thing in the world.” She recounted, “In that moment of anger, you’ve got a 19-year-old who has died. There were his two friends on scene who were absolutely petrified and desperately trying to help him.” She continued, “You’ve got the person who stabbed him in the first place, who has now ruined his life.” “Then Sachin’s family is never going to be the same again,” she added. “And it’s distressing for us as well. As professionally as we try to deal with it, that’s a job that I’m always going to think about,” she expressed. She concluded, “There were nurses in tears… it was horrible.” For further content, highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire are available on BBC Sounds, the latest episode of Look North can be viewed, or stories for potential coverage can be submitted here. This report is copyrighted by BBC 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.