London Bridge stabbing: Former prisoner remembers ‘brother’ Jack

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It is almost a year since Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were killed in an attack at Fishmongers Hall in London.

They were among five people who were stabbed by a prisoner who had been released on license during an event being held to celebrate five years of the Learning Together Programme, which helps prisoners gain qualifications alongside students from Cambridge University.

Now, one of Jack Merritt's close friends, Rosca Onya, has released a song in his memory. Rosca grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he had survived the horror of war.

He settled in the UK but struggled at school and became involved in crime. He was serving a prison sentence for delivering a firearm when he met Jack, a 25 year old course co-ordinator for Learning Together and the two became good friends.

Rosca explains how he and Jack developed an incredibly close bond, and why he has now come to know Jack’s father as ‘Dad’.

Warning: This audio contains descriptions from Rosca about his experience of racism when settling in the UK, and includes racists words and language.