Mum ‘paralysed by grief’ for murdered 22-year-old son

The grieving mother of an aspiring young lawyer murdered in north London last weekend says she is “paralysed by grief” as the hunt for his killers continues.

Sven Badzak, 22, whose father is Jewish, was with a friend outside Bagel Baby in Willesden Lane in Kilburn on Saturday when the pair were attacked by a gang of youths.

Badzak’s mother, Jasna, paid tribute to her only son last night, telling Jewish News he was “beloved by everyone”.

Calling the assailants “scumbags and monsters”, she described how one of the wounds was “seven centimetres into the chest” with three more into his lower back.

Jasna said she was “paralysed by grief” and “couldn’t even hug him and kiss him” to say goodbye.

Police described the attack as “barbaric”.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Wrigley, said: “A young man has lost his life in the most tragic circumstances and we are doing everything we can to find those responsible. We have been carrying out enquiries, and after reviewing CCTV from the area, we are confident that Sven and his friend were the victims of an unprovoked assault by a group of males.

“As the group chased the pair, Sven and his friend became separated. Sven fell to the ground and was attacked by a number of the group. His friend was also attacked but managed to seek help in a nearby shop and remains in a stable condition in hospital.

“Our thoughts are with both families of these victims and I want to assure them that we will support them throughout this investigation and that my team of highly experienced officers will be working tirelessly to locate and apprehend those responsible for this horrific attack.

“I would also appeal to anyone who was in or around the Willesden Lane and Kilburn High Road area at the time and may have witnessed this incident involving the victims and suspects to get in contact. If you were a road user and have dash cam fitted in your vehicle then please check this as you may have captured a part of this which could help our investigation.”

After police “said they believe “Sven and his friend became involved in an altercation with a group of males”, his mother responded: “There was no altercation, they were attacked for no reason whatsoever.”

A 17-year-old male was arrested over the killing on Tuesday while a 19-year-old male was arrested on Wednesday. Police urged anyone with information to telephone 101 quoting the reference CAD 5580/06Feb or to anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.

A former Conservative Party activist, Jasna appealed to the Prime Minister to find the other perpetrators, saying: “This is a child and his mother who helped you get elected. You knew Sven. You were high-fiving him as your mate”. 

The prime minister said his thoughts are with Ms Badzak and her family “in mourning the loss of her son”.

Badzak’s Jewish grandmother survived a Nazi round-up during the Holocaust.

From the town of Rogatica, now in Bosnia and Herzegovina, his paternal grandmother’s family were captured, but as a five-year-old, she “was in the neighbour’s house playing with other kids”, so evaded the round-up.

Jasna said: “She was orphaned, and those who took her in changed the family name from Bararor, “in order to not sound anything like it was Jewish. When she was older she was told that she was Jewish.”

She said: “We celebrate Chanukah, other major holidays. When Sven picked religious studies in school, obviously he chose Judaism”.

Jasna added that Sven occasionally accompanied his father to the synagogue and knew how to say ‘shana tovah’ (happy new year). Jasna said Sven “was anti-racist, anti-fascist, against antisemites, and he wore that with pride”.