Funeral held for litter row man

Up to 400 family and friends attended the funeral

The funeral of a man who died after an argument over litter has taken place.

Up to 400 mourners attended the service for 23-year-old Evren Anil who died after confronting youths over rubbish thrown into his sister's car.

A cortege of 50 cars drove from the Peckham New Mosque service to Grove Park Cemetery in Lewisham, south-east London, on Wednesday.

Mr Anil, from Upper Norwood, south London, fell into a coma after hitting his head on the pavement on 5 August.

The Kingston University graduate died eight days later.

'Low-key event'

Mr Anil's cousin Mehmet Aray said: "What is it for, for a bar of chocolate, for a joke, for fun? Is that what our country's come to when we kill each other for fun?

"He would have helped anyone... his friendship stretched to everyone.

We can't keep killing people like this, we can't keep losing innocent people like this. Mehmet Aray

"It was the start of his journey, the start of his life, and he was taken away from us."

Mr Anil's family said that dealing with street violence had become every Londoner's responsibility.

Mr Aray said: "We can't keep killing people like this, we can't keep losing innocent people like this.

"It's going to come to a stage where you have to stand up and fight but it's going to be too late. We've got to make a stance now."

Government donation

BBC London's special correspondent Kurt Barling attended the funeral.

He said: "The large funeral procession snaked through the streets of south London before arriving at the cemetery.

"There were a couple of speeches and a sermon but it was a very low-key event. Everybody was very upset and distraught."

In response to Mr Anil's death the Turkish government has donated a "substantial" sum to open a youth centre in south Norwood for people of all cultures and faiths.

Two boys, aged 16 and 17, have been charged with Mr Anil's murder.

They were remanded in custody after appearing in court earlier this month.