The family of murdered New Addington teenager Nilanthan

Murddi today told the Advertiser of their grief.

Surrounded by a clutch of medals, trophies and certificates

that Nilanthan had won, they told how the sports-mad youngster

had been working in the family's restaurant for the last year

and was full of ideas.

His distraught sister Santhiya, 18, said: "We used to have

four family members - but now there are only three.

"We were very close. Although I was a year older, I used to

look up to him. I can't imagine life without my brother.

"One of the things I'll miss most about him is the silly

little arguments we used to have over things like which TV

channel to watch - he loved watching sports whilst I liked

music programmes."

Asked to comment on what she thought of the murderer, she

hesitated before saying: "We just pray he will understand what

he has done and that God will forgive him."

Nilanthan was a pupil at Selhurst High School where he got

three GCSEs in English, maths and drama.

Then he went on to Langley Park School, in Bromley, where

Santhiya said he left last year so he could help out with the

family business.

His father Rampillai is the owner of the Royal Masala

restaurant in Brighton Road, Purley.

Mr Murddi said: "My son did some deliveries and waitering

but he was also full of ideas.

"He would make suggestions about things like how to

advertise the business better and how to improve the menu."

Nilanthan had amassed an impressive array of awards for his

sporting and drama prowess.

A certificate he won five years ago at the

Kingston-Upon-Thames Music Festival for his portrayal of a

scene from Of Mice and Men reads: "This was a beautifully

crafted scene ... well done."

A keen Manchester United fan, he was also a promising

batsman for Bromley Court Cricket Club.

Santhiya added that her dad and mum Kalaimagal had been

"destroyed" by their only son's death.

Nilanthan dropped his mum and sister off at the airport on

August 7 for a two-week holiday in India, and this was the last

time they ever saw him.

Santhiya said: "His last words were 'have a good holiday,

safe journey'."

The pair flew home as soon as they heard the news over the

weekend and only arrived back at their New Addington home at

11am yesterday (Sunday).

Santhiya added: "He was always giving a helping hand. Every

day, every second, we will be thinking of him."

The Murddi family are from Sri Lanka but have lived in

Britain for more than 20 years.

His aunt Usha Muralitharan, 48, said: "He was a helpful boy.

He was very family-orientated.

"Words can't express how I feel right now. He was energetic,

always giving a helping hand whenever it was needed."