My love for family of killer by US victim’s wife
AN AMERICAN tourist whose husband died saving her life in the Westminster Bridge attack has sent “love and compassion” to the family of his killer Khalid Masood.
Speaking from her home in Utah, Melissa Cochran said she “can only imagine the heartbreak” they feel at the murders the terrorist committed.
“I want to express my deepest love and compassion to all of the [victims’] families, to all of those who helped in any way that they could after the attack,” she said.
“I want to express love and compassion to those who had to relive those events by testifying, I know that was very hard for some people. I also want to express love and compassion for Masood’s family.
“From what I understand they didn’t share his belief system and this was not something that any of them wanted to happen. They were obviously shocked when it did happen.
Heartbreak
“I can only imagine the heartbreak they are feeling knowing that their father or their husband or son committed such atrocities.
“I just know in my heart that love and compassion and kindness wins over.”
Mrs Cochran and her husband Kurt, 54, were on a European sightseeing trip to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary when they were caught up in the carnage in Westminster in March 2017.
They had walked across Westminster Bridge and were planning to sit on a bench by the Thames before returning to Westminster Abbey.
Mr Cochran was hit by a car driven by Masood and killed. Mrs Cochran, who was injured in the attack, remembers little of what happened.
Speaking at the inquest yesterday, coroner Mark Lucraft QC told how Mr Cochran “almost certainly” saved the life of his wife by pushing her out of the way.
He said: “Had he not taken the action he did, she may have died, or sustained even more serious injuries than she already sustained.”