The family of Ezekiel Williams, a 26-year-old midfielder for non-league side Hendon FC who died after being seriously assaulted in Milton Keynes, have paid tribute to him as a 'blessing'. Two men have been charged with his murder.
Mr Williams died on Monday, November 2, following an incident in Midsummer Boulevard in the early hours of Sunday, November 1. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries. A Home Office postmortem examination took place on Thursday, and the preliminary cause of death is a head injury.
Club and family remember Ezekiel
Hendon FC released a statement remembering the player, who joined the club in September. The club said: "A humble, unassuming and generous individual with a razor-sharp wit, Eze joined the club in September and quickly established himself as a highly popular member of the dressing room and was beginning to carve a place for himself in midfield with a series of hard-working and selfless displays that summed him up as a person."
His sister, Shadore, recalled his ambitions and his excitement about small joys. She said: "Seeing Ezekiel get older and gain different ambitions in life was the best thing I could have witnessed. He got to become a football coach and teach children who loved the same sport as he did."
She described how he would ask her to help choose his clothes before a night out, and how they would talk about their days. She also remembered his ambition to learn to drive, saying: "When Ezekiel came to a decision he wanted to learn how to drive and get a car for easy transport, seeing him make ambitions, I never thought about how he made me so proud, despite me being his youngest sibling."
Brother's memories
His brother, Omran, spoke of his dedication and his softer side. He said: "Ezekiel was an extremely dedicated and somewhat obsessive kind of man when it came to detail and punctuality. His attention to detail for both himself and others around him, whether it was for football or his friends and family is just some of the key qualities Ezekiel had in his arsenal."
Omran added: "From this, I know that his voice, his teaching and his spirit will remain on the football pitch throughout all who have cared for him and praised him in his career. It pains me so much for my brother to go, but with this, I know his blessing will be with the many feet of young players and teammates that he's worked with, reached out to and taught, for many years to come."
Two men charged with murder
Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit, Sameull Hussein, aged 28, of no fixed abode, and Arman Uddin, aged 21, of Saxon Road, Luton, were each charged with one count of murder. A third man, aged 30, also from Luton, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released on conditional court bail while investigations continue.
