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Mother 'ready' for murder details | Mother 'ready' for murder details |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Almost five years after her daughter was brutally murdered, a mother from Swansea is due to meet police to hear the full facts about her death. | Almost five years after her daughter was brutally murdered, a mother from Swansea is due to meet police to hear the full facts about her death. |
Sharon Hurlow's 21-year-old daughter Elizabeth Simms-Rees was beaten and raped by Richard Cullen in June 2002. | Sharon Hurlow's 21-year-old daughter Elizabeth Simms-Rees was beaten and raped by Richard Cullen in June 2002. |
The murder followed a row over the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. | The murder followed a row over the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. |
Cullen, who pleaded guilty, was jailed for life, but Mrs Hurlow says she never learnt details of what happened on the night her daughter died. | Cullen, who pleaded guilty, was jailed for life, but Mrs Hurlow says she never learnt details of what happened on the night her daughter died. |
Mrs Hurlow said Elizabeth had been a "happy-go-lucky girl" and she had struggled to come to terms with losing her. | Mrs Hurlow said Elizabeth had been a "happy-go-lucky girl" and she had struggled to come to terms with losing her. |
"I think I am ready to know - I know it has taken so long but, at the beginning, I didn't want to know anything what happened to her," she said. | "I think I am ready to know - I know it has taken so long but, at the beginning, I didn't want to know anything what happened to her," she said. |
Elizabeth Simms-Rees died in 2002 | Elizabeth Simms-Rees died in 2002 |
"Now I am a little bit stronger and I want to know what happened to my daughter - I want to know the truth. | "Now I am a little bit stronger and I want to know what happened to my daughter - I want to know the truth. |
"I don't know what is going to be said, but I have been told it is not very nice what I am going to hear. | "I don't know what is going to be said, but I have been told it is not very nice what I am going to hear. |
"My heart is telling me to go. I am going because I am a mother and I want to know why my daughter is in her grave. " | "My heart is telling me to go. I am going because I am a mother and I want to know why my daughter is in her grave. " |
Mrs Hurlow said she was very nervous ahead of the meeting with police, which is due to take place on Friday. | Mrs Hurlow said she was very nervous ahead of the meeting with police, which is due to take place on Friday. |
In the trial at Swansea Crown Court in 2002, Cullen, then 44, admitted murdering Ms Simms-Rees at his home. | In the trial at Swansea Crown Court in 2002, Cullen, then 44, admitted murdering Ms Simms-Rees at his home. |
The judge said Cullen's crime was 'truly appalling' | |
The jury heard how Cullen had beaten her around the head with a rubber mallet and then strangled her when he realised she was not dead. | The jury heard how Cullen had beaten her around the head with a rubber mallet and then strangled her when he realised she was not dead. |
Sentencing Cullen, Mr Justice Richards described the circumstances of the murder as "truly appalling". | Sentencing Cullen, Mr Justice Richards described the circumstances of the murder as "truly appalling". |
Mrs Hurlow said she missed her daughter every day. | Mrs Hurlow said she missed her daughter every day. |
"I cry about her - I just wish she was here with me today instead of me being put through all this again after five years," she said. | "I cry about her - I just wish she was here with me today instead of me being put through all this again after five years," she said. |
"I still can't accept she's not her with me and I will never accept it. I am just waiting for the door to open or the phone to ring. | "I still can't accept she's not her with me and I will never accept it. I am just waiting for the door to open or the phone to ring. |
"I am just a bag of nerves at the moment. I can't sleep, I'm not eating. I have got a lot of people caring for me, to make sure I am alright." | "I am just a bag of nerves at the moment. I can't sleep, I'm not eating. I have got a lot of people caring for me, to make sure I am alright." |
She added that the family was planning to celebrate what would have been Elizabeth's birthday on Saturday 5 May. It will be the first time they had marked the day since she died. | She added that the family was planning to celebrate what would have been Elizabeth's birthday on Saturday 5 May. It will be the first time they had marked the day since she died. |
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