Published: 12 January 2012
by GEORGIA GRAHAM

THE sister of a man shot in Holborn has made a plea for witnesses to her brother’s murder to come forward.

Aarron McKoy, 22, died near the Bourne estate in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Cyrena Barned, 27, told the New Journal: “You know you just think nothing like this will ever happen to you, so it is really hard to understand when it does.

We are not a family that has any experience of violence so this is not something we are used to.

But we need to get witnesses to speak out, to feel they are able to come forward and to know that they will get the protection they need if they do.”

Mr McKoy, who was an identical twin and had an older brother, died on what was his birthday.

“Aarron was my youngest brother,” Ms Barned, who lives in Enfield, said.

“When he was little he was like my shadow.

He was always following me and hugging me, he was a very good brother.

“We never had any problems or issues with him – so if this can happen to Aarron it could happen to anyone.

But hopefully his death will mean that something is done, that other people won’t have to face this problem in their families again.”

Described as “tied at the hip”, Mr McKoy and his twin brother had recently moved out of the family home.

He was in the process of starting his own business.

“Aarron was a humble person, really.

He would never harm anyone.

He just loved life and he enjoyed it to the fullest,” said Ms Barned

Police were called at about 4am on New Year’s Day to reports of a shooting in Portpool Lane.

Mr McKoy, of Hackney, was pronounced dead at the scene.

He is known to have been at Clerkenwell House wine bar in Hatton Wall in the hours before he was killed.

A Hackney man has appeared in court in connection with the shooting, while police inquiries continue.

In an official appeal released through police, Ms Barned added: “All of Aarron’s family and friends are asking: how can you be loyal to someone who killed another human being?

Whoever murdered Aarron set out with a gun in his pocket and evil intentions not to maim but to kill on a day everyone else went out to celebrate and bring in the New Year.”

An incident room is open under DCI John Crossley on 020 8733 4212.

Information can also be passed to Crime­stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.