'We know who killed our girls'

No one has been charged with the murders

The mothers of two teenagers shot dead while celebrating New Year have told a parliamentary committee that it is widely-known who killed them.

Marcia Shakespeare and Beverley Thomas marked the six-month anniversary of the murders by addressing the all-party group at the House of Commons.

Mrs Shakespeare's daughter, Letisha, 17, and Mrs Thomas' daughter, Charlene Ellis, 18, were shot dead outside a party held at a hairdresser's salon in Aston, Birmingham, on 2 January.

When they were asked if it was known who killed the girls, both mothers nodded.

100 witnesses

Sandra Thomas, whose daughter Cheryl Shaw was injured in the attack, and who also spoke before the committee, said: "A lot of people know it but they are still too scared to come forward."

The mothers said that police have told them about 100 people saw the attack, but were not prepared to talk to officers.

We've been putting up leaflets giving witnesses information but because people are scared they're taking them down

Beverley Thomas

They also told the committee, which deals with the issue of gun crime, that suspects in some cases should be compelled to give evidence to police.

Beverley Thomas told the meeting, chaired by MP Diane Abbott: "I don't think there's enough being done.

"The government is not doing enough about gun crime.

"When they do something like this and the police arrest them and they say 'no comment, no comment', the law should be changed."

Mrs Shakespeare said the situation was a "barrier" to officers.

The two teenagers who survived the attack did not want to be filmed

Beverley Thomas said some members of the local community are actively hindering the investigation.

"We've been putting up leaflets giving witnesses information telling them what they can do regarding the incident but, because people are scared, they're taking them down.

"That information is not getting out to the community."

Charlene Ellis' twin sister, Sophie, and their cousin, Cheryl Shaw, were also both injured in the attack.

Sophie spent months in hospital recovering from her injuries.

Both teenagers were with their mothers at Westminster, but did not want to be filmed by the media.

West Midlands Police say the four girls were innocent victims of a violent turf war between two African-Caribbean gangs who operate in north Birmingham.

Although eight men have been arrested as part of the inquiry, six of them refused to answer questions and no one has yet been charged with the girls' murders.