Mother finds son murdered at home

Police described Michael as hard working

An 18-year-old student has been found beaten to death in his home.

Michael Alexander Jones' body was discovered by his mother at the flat they shared in Stanley Road, Edmonton, north London, on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Jones, who had suffered serious head injuries, was a student at Queen Mary University in east London.

Police have begun a murder inquiry and have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the family home to contact them.

Neighbours shocked

Det Ch Insp John Macdonald said: "Michael was a hard-working lad.

"He does not appear to have been in trouble before and at this early stage there seems to be no apparent motive."

Mr Jones' neighbour, 73-year-old Adrian Davis, said: "It's quite a shock for us over here."

He said he had not seen or heard anything from his neighbour's flat the whole of Thursday, adding that police knocked at his door in the afternoon informing him about a "serious incident".

In a statement, Queen Mary University said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Michael Alexander Jones, a first year geography student at Queen Mary.

"Michael was a hard-working, motivated and popular student, and he will be greatly missed.

"We extend our deepest condolences to Michael's family and friends at this very difficult time."