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'TJ - the most precious gift any parent can be given'

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Terry's mum Helen Edmonds speaks outside Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday.
Terry's mum Helen Edmonds speaks outside Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday.

Terry Edmonds' mother Helen spoke movingly to the jurors today - reducing some of them to tears.

Here is the emotion-charged statement in full (her statement outside court can be watched in the window above):

"Some of you in this courtroom today will never have sat through a murder trial and I hope you never have to as a parent of a victim.

"Thanks to the continual denials from the defendant I have now sat through three, and this one has been no easier than the previous two.

"When TJ went missing on April 17 2006, it was every mother's nightmare come true. I knew I would never see her alive again. I was right.

"The next time I saw her was on April 30 2006 to identify her.

"Somehow I managed to look past her battered and discoloured face and still saw my beautiful little girl and, no matter what has been said in this courtroom, she was beautiful both inside and out.

"Whatever opinions have been formed of her, she had the right to live her life as she wanted. More to the point she had the right to live.

"Her young life was taken in a senseless, vile act of sexual gratification. I have lost count of the times I have been told that time is a healer.

"Believe you me, it's not. Nothing can take away the gut-wrenching feeling that is there the minute you open your eyes each morning and doesn't go until you close them again to try and sleep.

"The same pain you get when you walk past a pretty teenager in the street and do a double-take because you think it might be her.

"TJ was a bright, intelligent girl who had everything to live for.

"Yes, she made mistakes, but who of us doesn't? She had the right to live a long and happy life, to live, love, have fun, marry and have children and grandchildren, but all this was taken away from her.

"Not only has the defendant taken her life, but he has ripped apart those of my sons, too.

"My eldest son moved to the other end of the country, as he couldn't bear to stay here. He's not been back since. That was two years ago, so I lost him, too.

"My youngest son turned 13, 10 days before TJ was killed. You can't imagine what this has done to him, the sister he adored and looked up to, the sister who doted on him.

"He blames himself for not being there to 'protect her'.

"How could he have done? It's only one person's fault and now he's been found guilty, but it won't stop Zac carrying that guilt around with him for the rest of his life.

"If you can imagine a stone being cast into a pond, the ripples get bigger and bigger.

"TJ's murder has had that impact on our lives. The consequences of one man's actions are wide and far reaching.

"Her death has affected many people, not just the ones who have been here showing their support, but many more I wouldn't allow to be here as they have daughters of their own.

"I know TJ is in a better place than we are now, but it's what she had to go through to get there that makes me sick to my stomach. Alone, scared, frightened. Yes, there have been many victims because of this man's actions.

"But the one who I will never see again, hold again, laugh or cry with again, the one who will never hold her own children in her arms, who I'll never see fulfil her dream of becoming a midwife is the girl who melted my heart when she was born nearly 20 years ago.

"The girl I was lucky enough to call my daughter, the most precious gift any parent can be given, and that's my beautiful TJ."

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