The family of a frail and elderly man killed after being ambushed by a group of teenage girls in an unprovoked street attack asked a court today: 'What type of generation is being raised?'
Victim Fredi Rivero was described as 'the nicest man you can meet', a practising Buddhist who was simply trying to make his way home when he was set upon by three girls.
Mr Rivero, 75, made multiple requests for the girls to stop when they cornered him near a bus stop in Islington, north London, just before 11.30pm on February 27, even making the peace sign and holding his hands up.
But the girls, aged 14, 16 and 17, refused to relent. CCTV footage showed they kicked, pushed and shoved Mr Rivero, who asked them calmly: 'What is the problem, girls?'
One of the attackers took defenceless Mr Rivero's glasses, while another filmed the incident on a mobile phone.
The third girl, the eldest of the trio, then punched the victim, leaving him prone on the ground in a pool of his own blood. He died the following day in hospital.
The two youngest girls, who are sisters, sought to blame the older girl, and also claimed Bolivian national Mr Rivero approached them.
They were arrested and later admitted manslaughter. They cannot be identified because of their age.
Mr Rivero's daughter today said she would never forgive the trio, and asked questions about why the girls - who are said to have drunk half a bottle of vodka between them before the attack - would have resorted to violence.
The woman, who asked not to be named and gave her evidence from behind a screen so as not to be seen by the defendants, told the sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey: 'They assaulted my dad at 11.30pm. My question - how can girls their age be out at that time? What is conducing them to violence?
'What type of generation is being raised as a result of all of this?
'We should be living in a society where we can have a conversation and even disagree without resorting to violence.
'I will never forgive these three offenders for cruelly and maliciously killing my dad.
'He was an ill, elderly person who would never hurt anyone. His death makes the crime irreversible.'
The daughter said her father had several bouts of ill-health and was being treated for cancer.
She said he was 'a kind-hearted gentleman', who loved chess, animals, gardening and music such as Queen.
The court heard the girls fled the scene before being picked up by police at different locations nearby.
The 16-year-old attempted to point the blame at Mr Rivero, telling police: 'I'll be so real, that's his fault, he started on us, (the eldest girl) pushed him, and he lost his balance and he fell.'
The girl, who has previous convictions for assault, added: 'My new year's resolution was not to get arrested this year, it's already done, it's not even f****** March.'
The younger sister then told police as she was arrested: 'It wasn't me. I promise I know who it was, it was my sister's friend.'
The eldest girl, who threw the punch that floored Mr Rivero, had put her clothes in the washing machine by the time she was arrested.
She told an officer: 'I was just helping my friends, he was pushing me, and I punched him, is he alive?'
Prosecutor Louise Oakley said former Mayfair hotel worker Mr Rivero was an innocent victim who did nothing to provoke the attack.
She said: 'He was not the aggressor, he did not start the incident, we submit he didn't do anything inappropriate.
'He is continually trying to get away from them, and they continue to follow him.'
She added: 'He was an elderly man, on his own, who simply wanted to get home.
'The violence and humiliation they inflicted on him was gratuitous.'
Videos later seized from the girls' mobiles showed violence against other members of the public previously.
Her Honour Judge Judy Khan KC said the girls ‘all had unusually traumatic upbringings'.
The sentencing hearing will conclude at a later date.
Anonymous said
Oct 3 4:52 PM, 2025
As with a lot of issues it's wrong to vilify an entire societal group for the wrongdoings of a few individuals.
I think a lot if it is that we see it more because our whole life is on cameras of some sort..
That said, I think we are seeing more antisocial behavior which is odd considering everyone should know that acting like an idiot will likely wind up on video somewhere..
In theory, the cameras should be a deterrent. In practice people want to perform in front of them for the "idiot of the day" award..
Fluffy said
Oct 3 6:42 PM, 2025
That truly is tragic and it's very sad that that poor man had to endure that. Him calmly asking them what the trouble was breaks my heart. It also may indicate how violence is rising in girls. The way they treated him was so cruel.though and to film it , I can't get my head around it. Only children themselves but taking the life of an elderly man for fun is beyond comprehension. They didn't seem.to process the gravity of their actions either.
Like Anon, I don't think we can say that a whole generation are monsters based on this tragic event. In every generation there are good and bad. I would concede youngsters now don't adhere to rules as much and don't respect authority. Youngsters are also more isolated now, they spend more time on their smartphones texting than actually going outside to meet friends.
But it's a horrible tragedy Digs, I can't understand how those girls sleep.at night, robbing this poor man of his life.
-- Edited by Fluffy on Friday 3rd of October 2025 06:53:55 PM
Fluffy said
Oct 3 6:50 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
As with a lot of issues it's wrong to vilify an entire societal group for the wrongdoings of a few individuals.
I agree Anon but God, reading that nearly had me in tears. They were drunk and clearly came from abusive households but to murder an innocent elderly man just trying to make his way home..it's just horrible.
They must be de sensitized to violence to be able to callously commit such a crime and possibly have been victims of violence themselves. But they are old enough to know what they were doing and no, no.excuse for that.
Syl said
Oct 4 12:00 AM, 2025
Some young people, whether by nature or nurture, are cruel. Some learn to control and discipline themselves, most hopefully develope empathy and kindness as they grow.
When they reach 14, 16 and 17, they know right from wrong, and these girls showed no human kindness at all to the man they murdered.
I am convinced the Internet has deadened some young people to others pain and suffering, they can say online what they want to anyone with no consequence, that spills over into real life, people's feelings don't matter.
Couple that with a cold indifferent home life and the breakdown of family values, maybe it's not so surprising some youngsters show no respect or remorse.
Fluffy said
Oct 4 12:17 AM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Some young people, whether by nature or nurture, are cruel. Some learn to control and discipline themselves, most hopefully develope empathy and kindness as they grow.
When they reach 14, 16 and 17, they know right from wrong, and these girls showed no human kindness at all to the man they murdered.
I am convinced the Internet has deadened some young people to others pain and suffering, they can say online what they want to anyone with no consequence, that spills over into real life, people's feelings don't matter.
Couple that with a cold indifferent home life and the breakdown of family values, maybe it's not so surprising some youngsters show no respect or remorse.
I agree with your whole post especially the BIB Syl. Children who are bullied can not escape it anymore as when they go home from school which should be their place of sanctuary there are web pages dedicated to mocking them. There is no.escape. The anonymity makes people think they are not really doing any harm and that is dangerous.
But what these teenagers did was truly evil..the one didn't seem to even comprehend she had taken a life. Extreme abuse in the home blunts children's feeling and empathy for others hence why many abused children (but by no.means all) grow up to be abusers themselves. This was a really callous act though.
My heart goes out to his daughter and to him. He must have been so frightened. It's a tragic loss.
The family of a frail and elderly man killed after being ambushed by a group of teenage girls in an unprovoked street attack asked a court today: 'What type of generation is being raised?'
Victim Fredi Rivero was described as 'the nicest man you can meet', a practising Buddhist who was simply trying to make his way home when he was set upon by three girls.
Mr Rivero, 75, made multiple requests for the girls to stop when they cornered him near a bus stop in Islington, north London, just before 11.30pm on February 27, even making the peace sign and holding his hands up.
But the girls, aged 14, 16 and 17, refused to relent. CCTV footage showed they kicked, pushed and shoved Mr Rivero, who asked them calmly: 'What is the problem, girls?'
One of the attackers took defenceless Mr Rivero's glasses, while another filmed the incident on a mobile phone.
The third girl, the eldest of the trio, then punched the victim, leaving him prone on the ground in a pool of his own blood. He died the following day in hospital.
The two youngest girls, who are sisters, sought to blame the older girl, and also claimed Bolivian national Mr Rivero approached them.
They were arrested and later admitted manslaughter. They cannot be identified because of their age.
Mr Rivero's daughter today said she would never forgive the trio, and asked questions about why the girls - who are said to have drunk half a bottle of vodka between them before the attack - would have resorted to violence.
The woman, who asked not to be named and gave her evidence from behind a screen so as not to be seen by the defendants, told the sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey: 'They assaulted my dad at 11.30pm. My question - how can girls their age be out at that time? What is conducing them to violence?
'What type of generation is being raised as a result of all of this?
'We should be living in a society where we can have a conversation and even disagree without resorting to violence.
'I will never forgive these three offenders for cruelly and maliciously killing my dad.
'He was an ill, elderly person who would never hurt anyone. His death makes the crime irreversible.'
The daughter said her father had several bouts of ill-health and was being treated for cancer.
She said he was 'a kind-hearted gentleman', who loved chess, animals, gardening and music such as Queen.
The court heard the girls fled the scene before being picked up by police at different locations nearby.
The 16-year-old attempted to point the blame at Mr Rivero, telling police: 'I'll be so real, that's his fault, he started on us, (the eldest girl) pushed him, and he lost his balance and he fell.'
The girl, who has previous convictions for assault, added: 'My new year's resolution was not to get arrested this year, it's already done, it's not even f****** March.'
The younger sister then told police as she was arrested: 'It wasn't me. I promise I know who it was, it was my sister's friend.'
The eldest girl, who threw the punch that floored Mr Rivero, had put her clothes in the washing machine by the time she was arrested.
She told an officer: 'I was just helping my friends, he was pushing me, and I punched him, is he alive?'
Prosecutor Louise Oakley said former Mayfair hotel worker Mr Rivero was an innocent victim who did nothing to provoke the attack.
She said: 'He was not the aggressor, he did not start the incident, we submit he didn't do anything inappropriate.
'He is continually trying to get away from them, and they continue to follow him.'
She added: 'He was an elderly man, on his own, who simply wanted to get home.
'The violence and humiliation they inflicted on him was gratuitous.'
Videos later seized from the girls' mobiles showed violence against other members of the public previously.
Her Honour Judge Judy Khan KC said the girls ‘all had unusually traumatic upbringings'.
The sentencing hearing will conclude at a later date.
As with a lot of issues it's wrong to vilify an entire societal group for the wrongdoings of a few individuals.
https://x.com/madclips_/status/1973855513700917413
I think a lot if it is that we see it more because our whole life is on cameras of some sort..
That said, I think we are seeing more antisocial behavior which is odd considering everyone should know that acting like an idiot will likely wind up on video somewhere..
In theory, the cameras should be a deterrent. In practice people want to perform in front of them for the "idiot of the day" award..
That truly is tragic and it's very sad that that poor man had to endure that. Him calmly asking them what the trouble was breaks my heart. It also may indicate how violence is rising in girls. The way they treated him was so cruel.though and to film it , I can't get my head around it. Only children themselves but taking the life of an elderly man for fun is beyond comprehension. They didn't seem.to process the gravity of their actions either.
Like Anon, I don't think we can say that a whole generation are monsters based on this tragic event. In every generation there are good and bad. I would concede youngsters now don't adhere to rules as much and don't respect authority. Youngsters are also more isolated now, they spend more time on their smartphones texting than actually going outside to meet friends.
But it's a horrible tragedy Digs, I can't understand how those girls sleep.at night, robbing this poor man of his life.
-- Edited by Fluffy on Friday 3rd of October 2025 06:53:55 PM
I agree Anon but God, reading that nearly had me in tears. They were drunk and clearly came from abusive households but to murder an innocent elderly man just trying to make his way home..it's just horrible.
They must be de sensitized to violence to be able to callously commit such a crime and possibly have been victims of violence themselves. But they are old enough to know what they were doing and no, no.excuse for that.
When they reach 14, 16 and 17, they know right from wrong, and these girls showed no human kindness at all to the man they murdered.
I am convinced the Internet has deadened some young people to others pain and suffering, they can say online what they want to anyone with no consequence, that spills over into real life, people's feelings don't matter.
Couple that with a cold indifferent home life and the breakdown of family values, maybe it's not so surprising some youngsters show no respect or remorse.
I agree with your whole post especially the BIB Syl. Children who are bullied can not escape it anymore as when they go home from school which should be their place of sanctuary there are web pages dedicated to mocking them. There is no.escape. The anonymity makes people think they are not really doing any harm and that is dangerous.
But what these teenagers did was truly evil..the one didn't seem to even comprehend she had taken a life. Extreme abuse in the home blunts children's feeling and empathy for others hence why many abused children (but by no.means all) grow up to be abusers themselves. This was a really callous act though.
My heart goes out to his daughter and to him. He must have been so frightened. It's a tragic loss.