Tom Roberts’ mother to meet minister over son’s murder

Tom Roberts, 21, was killed outside Subway in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, in March 2022 by a man who sought asylum in the country and lied about his age.

After his death, it was revealed that Tom’s killer, Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, had previously been convicted of a double murder in Serbia and had posed as a 14-year-old when seeking refuge in Poole.

Delores Wallace lays flowers at a tree in Horseshoe Common where her son Tom Roberts was murdered  (Image: Graham Hunt/BNPS) Dolores Wallace, Tom Roberts’ mother, said her son’s death resulted from missed warnings and system failures.

She said: “Knowing this does not bring my son back. It only leaves painful questions: How was this allowed to happen? Who failed to protect us?”

She called for her son’s murder to be included in the public inquiry into the Southport murders, arguing that justice must be applied equally.

MP for Bournemouth East Tom Hayes said Dolores first approached him during a surgery appointment in September last year to discuss her grief and request a meeting with a government minister.

Tom Hayes (Image: Submitted)

Mr Hayes has since arranged a meeting with Angela Eagle, Minister of State at the Home Office for Border Security, which is scheduled to take place in two weeks.

He said: “Dolores has obviously got concerns about the handling of her son’s death.

“We want her to have an opportunity to share her concerns directly with the minister.”

Mr Hayes also confirmed he had written to Dolores’ solicitor regarding the release of coroner’s documents to his office but was told an MP was not considered an ‘interested person.’ He said efforts are ongoing to challenge that decision.

He added: “We’re conscious from the recent council meeting that Dolores is a grieving mother who wants to ensure no other family has to experience what hers has.

“And we wanted to make sure that she was able to directly represent her views to the government about this important issue.”