Soccer Extreme : The brother of England soccer star Jermain Defoe died last night after being beaten up in the street. Jade Defoe, 26, suffered a fractured skull and massive brain damage in the attack.He had been on a life support machine in hospital.
Tottenham’s £15million striker Jermain and the rest of his family were said to be devastated following his death.
A police source said: “We fully expect this to be a murder inquiry.”
The young father — also known by his middle name Gavin — was attacked near Leytonstone High Road in East London on Monday afternoon.
Detectives are still trying to establish a motive for the assault, and it is not known how many attackers there were.
Hospital ... docs fought to save Jade
Jade was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital and later transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology in central London.A man of 28 was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
He was freed on bail but re-arrested yesterday over the attack itself.
Jermain, also 26, and Jade had the same father, crack addict Jimmy Defoe. He has three other sons, all by different mothers, but the half-brothers are said to be close.
Jade was well-known on the urban music scene as a grime MC — a genre combining garage, dance and hip hop.
A source said he used the stage name Esco Bars, adding: “He had been doing it for quite a long time, since the grime movement started in 2003.
“He was well-connected — a lot of people knew him. I heard that he and Jermain were close to each other.”
Victim ... young dad Jade sufferedmassive brain damage in street beating
Symone Allen wrote: “Gav, you been on my mind and in my prayers all week bro. Hope you’re in a better place, painless and free. RIP xxxxx”
Perry May said: “Man, can’t believe it, an absolute legend. R.I.P”
A post mortem was scheduled to take place at East Ham mortuary this morning. (thesun)