Jagger girl's anguish over drugs death of close friend
By James Tapper
Last updated at 10:36 PM on 06th February 2010
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1249101/Jagger-girls-anguish-drugs-...Sir Mick Jagger’s children have been left devastated after a close friend died following an overdose of the illegal drug Ecstasy.
Actor James Jagger and model Lizzie Jagger were in tears after learning of the death of club DJ Shawn Francis, who was recently arrested twice by police while in possession of the drug.
The 34-year-old Londoner, who was close to Victoria’s Secret model Lizzie and DJed at her 21st birthday party, was found slumped on the floor of his South London flat.
Francis was a former resident DJ at celebrity nightclub Boujis – a favourite of Prince William and Prince Harry – thanks in part to his friendship with the family of another Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood.
Overdose: DJ Shawn Francis
The DJ was close friends with Wood’s son Tyrone, and he got his first big break by playing records at Ronnie’s 47th birthday celebration 15 years ago, at the age of 19.
It is understood Francis was arrested last month in possession of 20 Ecstasy tablets, and released on bail under a curfew, although the Metropolitan Police was unable to confirm this.
But the DJ, who had a young son, is said to have been arrested again less than a week later, and his solicitor is said to have warned that he was likely to go to jail.
Last week his girlfriend discovered him comatose on the floor of his flat in Battersea, friends said.
Lizzie Jagger and Jerry Hall are said to be devastated by their DJ friend's death
Francis was taken to Charing Cross Hospital to be treated for the overdose – believed to have been ten Ecstasy pills and a quantity of MDMA powder, the active ingredient of Ecstasy – but he died after a fatal brain haemorrhage last Wednesday.
Both James Jagger, 24, and Tyrone Wood, also 24, who runs his father’s Scream art gallery, are said to be ‘devastated’ by Francis’s death. The three men formed a close-knit group on the celebrity party circuit.
Tyrone was so close that he helped run a Facebook page for Francis to promote his club nights.
A friend of the group said: ‘Shawn was a right wild card, a really close friend of Tyrone’s and James Jagger’s.
‘The three of them would always hang out together. They were part of the celebrity gallery crowd who hang out at places like Scream, or some of the Hoxton galleries. Lily Allen was part of the same gang.
‘Lizzie Jagger was also very close to Shawn. There were a few rumours about them, and it always seemed likely something had happened between them.’
Friends: Tyrone Wood with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley: 'Shawn was a dear friend and a nice guy, and he will be missed very much, not least by the Woods' said a spokesman
Francis’s death came barely two weeks after The Mail on Sunday revealed that Sir Mick’s youngest daughter, Georgia May, had been seen sniffing at a mysterious cellophane-wrapped package at her 18th birthday party – something her friends insisted had not contained drugs.
The wild party ended with Tyrone Wood having a scuffle in the street with one of his friends, who had apparently asked for Georgia May’s phone number. The two men were separated by Lizzie Jagger.
Francis was not at the party, although Lizzie, whose mother is Jerry Hall, had invited him to DJ her 21st birthday celebration in 2005. He also DJed for Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton at one of her recent birthday parties.
He had known the Wood family for more than 15 years when he first started DJing. He had also played records at Ronnie Wood’s 50th birthday party in 1997.
Another friend said: ‘Tyrone knew Shawn from Kingston, where the Woods live. Shawn had connections to Kingston College and he knew Tyrone’s family pretty well.
Lizzie breaks up the scuffle involving Tyrone at Georgia May's birthday party
They are all pretty shaken up about it. Jamie is devastated and Tyrone is distraught, and they aren’t the only ones. The whole Wood family knew Shawn and he was well loved.’
Yesterday more than 500 people had joined a Facebook tribute page set up to celebrate Francis’s life.
One neighbour who had lived below Francis’s flat in Battersea for 12 years said: ‘It is so sad as he was such a lovely, gentle guy and a great neighbour.
‘When he was younger he was really good with my four kids and would always remember their birthdays and bring them little presents. He also has a young son from a previous relationship. He didn’t live with Shawn but he used to come round quite a lot.’
In a personal profile on a website, Francis said he owed his success to the owners of Boujis. ‘I have been a DJ for over 15 years now and can still remember my first mix with two tape decks.
‘I started out playing at various places (some really grotty joints, trust me) but I love it nonetheless. Why? Because DJing has always been my passion.
‘With a lot of hard work and a hell of a lot of determination I am now resident DJ at the world-famous Boujis. It just keeps getting better and better.’
A spokesman for the Wood family said: ‘Shawn was a dear friend and a nice guy, and he will be missed very much, not least by the Woods.’
No one from the Jagger family was available to comment.
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