A campaign group calling for the deportation of a man who stabbed a teenager to death has won the backing of the victim's mother.
The group, which has been set up on social networking site, Facebook, as of Saturday, already had 908 members and calls for Mahmood Maksoudian to be deported when he is released from prison.
Maksoudian, aged 22, of Madams Wood Road, Little Hulton, was found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Andrew Holland outside Ashy's takeaway in Plodder Lane, Farnworth, last August.
He was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison in February but has launched an appeal against his conviction claiming he acted in self-defence.
The group's campaign has attracted the attention of Andrew's heartbroken mother, Joan, who called for justice for her son after she heard of Maksoudian's appeal.
The court heard Maksoudian was standing outside Ashys Takeaway, on Plodder Lane, Farnworth, one evening last August waiting for his food. Andrew, of Trentham Gardens, Salford, was walking nearby with three friends when he saw Maksoudian and walked over to him.
Maksoudian became angry and pushed him away. There was an argument during which Maksoudian pulled out a knife but dropped it on the floor. Andrew's friend Curtis McAtee tried to push the defendant away but Maksoudian pushed him back and picked up the knife. He then grabbed Curtis and stabbed him in the left side of his abdomen before lashing out at Andrew and stabbing him in the neck. The three boys ran away from Maksoudian but Andrew and Curtis collapsed a short distance away.
Maksoudian walked back into the takeaway, got a tissue for a cut to his finger and asked if his food could be delivered. He was still outside the takeaway when police arrived and was arrested.
Andrew and Curtis were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but Andrew's condition deteriorated and he died that night.
Chief Insp Peter Giles, who led the investigation, said: “We believe that Andrew went over to Maksoudian believing he was someone else but instead of just acknowledging his mistake, Maksoudian completely over-reacted and lashed out.”
Andrew's mother, Joan Holland, said: “I feel I haven't got a future without Andrew and I feel as though I don't want to be here anymore.
“I won't be able to grow old with him beside me and there will be no 18th or 21st birthday to celebrate with him. I will never see him get married or settle down and have children. I just feel as though a huge part of me has been ripped away.”
Andrew Holland is remembered in the BNP's list of racist anti-White murders