Zadrin Raymond was expelled from school two years ago but went back this year‚ at the age of 20‚ with a dream of becoming a forensic investigator.

The dream died when the Grade 11 pupil was murdered on Tuesday at Eerste River High School‚ in Cape Town‚ in what is believed to have been a gang-related incident.

According to Raymond’s brother‚ Zane‚ 17‚ the three boys who allegedly stabbed his brother were members of the Terrible Rebels

Raymond’s mother‚ Wilhelmina Faro‚ said her son was part of a group called the Rude Boys who had previously had a number altercations with the Rebels.

“The same boys who stabbed him were involved in the fight that got him expelled two years ago‚” Faro said. “They were in a fight on the school grounds and two of his friends were stabbed.”

Faro said that the Rude Boys were a group of friends who went to the same school and who protected each other. “They don’t rob people or hurt people.”

Zane said his brother spent the evening before his death studying for a biology test. Faro‚ who works night shift as a care giver‚ said the same evening a fight broke out between members of the Terrible Rebels and Rude Boys.

“They assumed that he was part of [the fight] and I think that’s why they killed him‚” she said on Wednesday.

“This morning I was waiting for him to come in to my room‚ or to hear him wake up and move around the house. But I didn’t hear that and I just burst out into tears.”

Western Cape Education Department spokesman Paddy Attwell said the altercation “appeared gang-related”. The incident had traumatised staff and pupils‚ and the department had provided counselling.

Police spokesman Andre Traut said three suspects aged 15 and 16 had been arrested in connection with Raymond’s killing and were due to appear in Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court.