Hurt as Marianne’s statue goes missing
THE parents of a 10-year-old girl knocked down and killed as she walked home from school have told of their heartbreak after a statue they put up in her memory went missing.
Marianne Haboc, a talented gymnast, died in October, 2018, after being hit by a Range Rover being driven by Sobia Aftar on Taylor Street in Rochdale.
Following her death her parents William and Joanna left a statue of a little girl reading a book close to the scene of incident.
But yesterday the 3ft high figure went missing.
Marianne’s dad William Haboc noticed the ornament had gone went he went to visit his daughter’s shrine last night.
He said: “It’s heartbreaking. Perhaps people do not realise what that statue means to us.
“It’s a worthless piece of concrete and metal, but to us as parents it’s priceless.
“We chose it to remember Marianne’s dedication to school. It reminds us of Marianne because she loved reading.
“We go there to talk and pray. It gives us a peaceful time, it’s a place we go to get comfort. We would only ask the person who has it to please bring it back.”
In July last year Aftar, 33, was jailed for 20 months for causing death by careless driving.
The court heard how Mr and Mrs Haboc’s grieving process was made all the more difficult because of the actions of Aftar’s family and friends.
In the days after Marianne’s death, Mr Haboc said Aftar’s husband offered to give him money for the funeral during a ‘chance meeting.’
Mr Haboc did not accept any money but shortly afterwards, ‘a group of males came and started knocking on the door,’ he told the court.
The court also heard police were also forced to pass on a warning that a threat had been made towards the Habocs’ home and they had to call the fire service to put protective measures in place.