Tributes have poured in for a model with a 'beautiful soul' who was killed in his flat.
Nelson Asu was killed after two men, who pretended to be gay, gained his trust and entered his flat. On November 21, 1996 Nelson attended a gay club, which was then called the She Club on Victoria Street, when he met two men who pretended to be gay to gain Nelson’s trust and around 7.30pm the three of them made their way back to Nelson’s flat.
At some point in the evening, the two men revealed they were thieves and proceeded to threaten Nelson with a knife, pushed him to the ground and tied him up. Finally, they placed a red cloth over his face and head and as they prepared to leave his flat they forced him into a trunk with no room to move.
READ MORE: Model who died after being left in a trunk for days was 'life of the party'
Nelson was found on Monday 25 November, 1996 when his mother, sister, and sister’s then-partner gained entry to his flat following information that he had not been seen for days. By the time they found him Nelson had been dead for some time, having asphyxiated and choked on his own vomit.
Vanessa Allen, 51, Nelson's sister described how her mum was "never the same again" after her son's death.
Vanessa said: “It was awful, very traumatic, we were so close growing up so it really hit hard because he was my baby brother. My mum was never the same and she ended up getting sick as well.
"It was just the worst time of our lives. I was being the strong one, trying to keep everybody together because my mum was absolutely distraught. I nursed my mum through her illness so I never had the time to grieve. We didn’t even celebrate Christmas that year because the death had just happened.”
The next day after Nelson’s body was discovered, Carl Alker, of Old Swan and John Alexander, of Walton, who were 20 and 19 respectively at the time, were apprehended. They initially denied any involvement but were convicted of manslaughter at Liverpool Crown Court in August 1997 and both were handed life sentences.
Vanessa said: "On the day, Mr Justice Sedley told them: "This was a crime of barbaric cruelty. Anyone who has followed the trial realises the dreadful death you left him to die."
Vanessa, who lives in Wavertree, told the ECHO she still misses and thinks about her brother “day in and day out” and feels she never got the chance to properly grieve. Now, with the two men responsible for Nelson’s death free, Vanessa wants to remember her younger brother’s life.
Nelson was born in Liverpool as the youngest of four siblings, Leon, Jason, Vanessa and himself. Alongside his brothers and sisters, he grew up in Toxteth before moving to High Park Street.
The support worker explained the two had the type of relationship where they would tell each other everything first before anyone else. Nelson told his sister he was gay before later coming out to his parents at the age of 16, and when Vanessa fell pregnant with her daughter Keighley, she knew he needed to know as soon as possible.
Vanessa, who remembers going to all the gay bars with him, said: “We fought with each other as every brother and sister does. But it was clear that everybody loved him because he was so genuine and for his death to happen was such an utter shock for the whole of the community. If you had seen his funeral you would have understood how liked he was. He was the life of the party.”
Nelson was making strides to get his name known in the modelling industry and after some time his career began to take off. He was offered photoshoots in Manchester and took part in fashion shows at Garlands Nightclub in the city centre. When the ECHO first reported on Nelson's death, his mum, Ella, said: "We were all hoping he would become the male equivalent of Naomi Campbell. He certainly had the looks and the personality."
After reading Nelson's story, hundreds of people paid tribute to the model, who was described as a "beautiful soul".
Deborah Osu Branegan said: "My beautiful friend Nelson, you were like a brother to me. So many secrets we shared but most of all a heap load of love. RIP my lad, loved and missed always."
Yvonne Holden said: "Such a beautiful soul always remembered and loved Nelson RIP mate."
Tricia Higgins said: "One of my friend's was a lovely lad, so heart breaking. Always happy never forgotten. Taken too soon, R.i.p Nelson."
Andrew Arthur said: "I remember Nelson well, lived by him on Catherine Street. Such a friendly, beautiful down to earth lad. Such a shock, so devastating for his family and loved ones may he RIP."
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Model who died after being left in a trunk for days was 'life of the party'
