Mother's plea following Stockwell shooting

The mother of shot five-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran has urged people to help the police and save another family from suffering the same tragedy.

Sharmila Kamaleswaran said what had happened to her daughter had left her feeling empty inside.

"This incident has caused much shock for me and my family," she said.

"As any mother, I have deep love for all my children and what has happened to my daughter Thusha has left me feeling empty inside.

"I cannot eat or sleep properly until she opens her eyes.

"My daughter Thusha is such a sweet, quiet and helpful child, always smiling and laughing. I cannot wait to hear her voice again and hold her.

"I thank everyone who is praying for her. I ask for any person who knows about those responsible for this to come forward and speak to the police. I do not wish this to happen to another family.

"I thank all hospital staff who are involved in the care of my daughter Thusha.

"I thank the press for highlighting this story but ask that they respect the privacy of my family, especially my other children who themselves are having to deal with the tragic nature of their sister's injuries."

She spoke as a man was remanded in custody charged with two counts of attempted murder following the shooting of Thusha and a 35-year-old man.

Anthony McCalla, 19, of Oakdale Road, Streatham, south London, will appear next at the Old Bailey on June 10.

He appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court charged with shooting the little girl and bystander Roshan Selvakumar at a shop in Stockwell, south London.

McCalla, wearing a brown and white striped top and blue jeans, listened intently during the 15-minute hearing and spoke to give his name, address and date of birth.

District Judge Sue Green refused an application for bail.

On Friday night, a 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shootings was bailed to a date later this month.

Relatives are maintaining vigils at Thusha's hospital bedside while detectives build up a "continuity trail" of the attackers' movements.

Police said the youngster remained in a "stable but serious" condition.

Meanwhile, beat police are beefing up their presence around the Stockwell Food and Wine store as sources said up to 50 gangs were operating in the south London area.

Thusha - believed to be London's youngest gun crime victim - was hit in the chest and Mr Selvakumar suffered a head wound as two black youths cowered in the shop after being chased by three other black youths on bicycles.

Police said Mr Selvakumar's condition was also "stable but serious".

Thusha's mother, 12-year-old brother and three-year-old sister were in the shop during the shooting but were unhurt.

The store's owners are the children's aunt and uncle.

Crimestoppers is offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to the gun attackers' capture.