Newlove memorial to be held
A memorial service for father-of-three Garry Newlove is to be held tonight
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Saturday, 09, Aug 2008 07:45
Hundreds of people are expected to attend a memorial service for father-of-three Gary Newlove who was kicked to death last year.
Mr Newlove, 47, was killed after a confrontation with a group of youths outside his home in Warrington.
Today's service at Christ Church in Padgare marks 12 months since the attack and will feature tributes from his wife Helen, 46, and their daughters Zoe, 19, Danielle 16 and Amy, 13.
Reports suggest a candlelit procession will follow the church service to the spot where Mr Newlove was brutally kicked to death on August 10th 2007.
"It's going to be a very emotional day but it won't be sombre," Ms Newlove said.
"We are celebrating his life and it is a chance for the girls to tell everyone huts how much they thought of him.
"I still can't believe it happened, we still expect to wake up from it all," she added.
"My daughters have flashback. We are like shells, on the outside we are okay. It's like having an illness with no scar, we probably seem okay on appearance.
"Gary's life was taken so needlessly – and you can never get over that."
Adam Swellings, 19, Stephen Sorton, 17, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, were all convicted of Mr Newlove's murder at Chester crown court earlier this year.
Swellings, who it later emerged was out on bail when he attacked Mr Newlove, was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in jail.
While Sorton and Cunliffe were ordered to serve a minimum of 15 and 12 years behind bars respectively.
The memorial service is due to take place at 19:00 BST.