Daughters' tribute to murder victim

Zoe Newlove and her sisters Danielle and Amy paid moving tributes to their father Garry Newlove at a memorial service on the anniversary of the attack which led to his death.

Mr Newlove, 47, died three days after being kicked "like a football" by thugs outside his home in Padgate, Warrington, in August last year.

His daughters lamented that he would never see them married or meet his grandchildren in poignant letters read out by mother Helen Newlove to the 200-strong congregation gathered at Christ Church, Padgate.

Mrs Newlove's voice became choked and her voice broke when reading Zoe's letter, which stated: "I get told time's a great healer. I wish time could rewind itself, I wish this time would rewind so this person would see me graduate from university. I wish time would rewind so that he could walk me down the aisle."

Zoe stated: "This person was taken away from me right in front of my eyes. Accepting that he's not coming back is the hardest thing ever."

Danielle, 16, said in her letter that she missed her dad's smile and sitting down to family meals. She said: "My dad never saw my 16th birthday, he never got to see me in my prom dress. That's something every daughter wishes their dad to see.

"I can't believe he is gone. He will never walk me down the aisle or see his grandchildren. The night of his attack is a night I will never ever forget. I will make sure that Garry Newlove, my dad, is never forgotten for the loving person he was."

Thirteen-year-old Amy said in her letter: "It hurts me to think what pain my dad went through on that night but I think he feels more pain to not be with his family right now."

She added: "He wasn't just my father he was my best friend. As a family we did everything together and now as a family we are broken into pieces."