Читать книгу Justice for Colette: My daughter was murdered - I never gave up hope of her killer being found. He was finally caught after 26 years - Jacqui Kirby - Страница 7

It is often said that, without hope, you have nothing. I have written this book to give hope to those who find themselves in the same dreadful position that we did. I am talking about the families who have lost a loved one in the most callous and brutal way imaginable – murder.

We’ve all seen them – the grieving families on the TV, staring out from the court steps, weeping towards the cameras. They are captured forever on film as they try to come to terms with their deep loss. For onlookers it is sad, but not forever. Long after the cameras and journalists have packed up and gone away, those families must live with that grief for the rest of their lives.

Murder leaves a huge void in your heart and soul that can never be filled. The pain doesn’t get any easier; you just learn to live with it. Most families in this situation get their conclusion a year or so after an arrest is made. Most of the time and, in the case of murder, an arrest usually follows pretty quickly; in our case, it didn’t. We had to wait more than a quarter of a century for justice for my lovely daughter Colette. During that time, the grief not only destroyed us one by one, it also split up my family, cost me my marriage and at times threatened my sanity. You continue to mourn for your loved one, and being the one left behind is sometimes a very lonely place to be.

It was my intention to write this book to give hope to other families that have gone, or are going, through the hell that we have endured for 26 long years. I also want to tell people what really happens to the other victims – those left behind – in these situations. Murder doesn’t stop at the crime itself. By its very nature, it sends shockwaves through entire families, destroying everything in its path. This ripple effect hurts every single person it touches, most of all the immediate family. They will try, as we did, to piece their fragmented lives back together, but it’s almost impossible. Once those lives have been smashed to smithereens by the impact of murder, there is no turning back. Your life changes forever in an instant.

This book is about the impact of such a deep and sudden loss, and how I grieved for my beautiful daughter. But it is also a book of hope – how I always believed that the police would catch her killer. It is written in memory of my lovely daughter Colette. I hope that, by reading it, you will gain a valuable insight into what happens behind the doors of those grieving family homes up and down the country.

Colette’s murder was one of the biggest and longest manhunts that Britain has ever seen. At its peak the inquiry had over 50 detectives working on it, day and night. It was led by no less than four senior investigating officers with one common goal – to catch her killer.

It took 26 years, but the police finally got their man and I got my justice. This unique experience has taught me one thing – never to give up hope. At times, I felt like doing so, but I never did, for without hope you have nothing.

As I started to write this book, I thought of happy times and fond memories, but they were often overshadowed by bad ones. It was difficult to put pen to paper and recall happy memories but I knew that I must do so. When I see her smiling face, I don’t see Colette Aram the murder victim, I see Colette Aram my beautiful little girl. She had a smile that could light up a room, a wicked sense of humour and an infectious laugh. She wasn’t an angel, no one is, but she was deeply treasured – she was my lovely Colette.

I dedicate this book not only to Colette but also to my wonderful son Mark. Despite his own private torment, he has been a continuous support to me and his father Tony throughout those 26 years. We love you, Mark, and feel honoured to call you our son.

So, this book is for her. A tribute to Colette – a very special girl and loving daughter who we were blessed with and allowed to share 16 years of blissful life with. We all love and miss you, Colette, but this is for you, my love. This is our justice for Colette.

Here is my story.