Tonight:
9°c
Son saved Rachel Nickell's boyfriend from committing suicide
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter19.06.09
Rachel Nickell's boyfriend has told how only their son stopped him committing suicide after her murder.
Andrew Hanscombe asked Alex, then two, if they should “go on” without her.
Mr Hanscombe told ITV News: “I started to explain to him that there was this issue and it was all about what we do now - whether we go on or not. As I was saying that, he looked me in the eye and said, I want to go on'.”
Rachel, 23, was stabbed 49 times on Wimbledon Common in broad daylight in 1992.
Alex witnessed the killing by serial rapist Robert Napper. He was found hugging his mother and pleading with her to wake up.
He insisted that his son, now 19, does not have a “blighted life”.
Mr Hanscombe said: “He's got a full life, has lots of interests, speaks four languages and has basically got the world at his feet.”
Reader views (3)
A very sad story, but such serious crime has a serious affect upon people.
Remember this at the ballot box.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
Clearly her parter has been scarred by the events, but he's obviously done a wonderful job in raising their son. It sounds like he is a credit to her name.
- Jc, London
Good lads, father and dad: puts the minor hassles of life in perspective for a lot of people reading it, I hope.
- Roz, France
