Family left devastated

THE widower of murder victim Ms Hassall has told of the devastating impact of the killing.

A statement from Graham Hassall was read out in court during yesterday’s sentencing of murderer Brian David Manship.

Mr Hassall said the statement was the last thing he could do for his “wife and best friend”.

Addressing Manship, the statement read: “Not only did you exploit a vulnerable person, you went on to kill her in the most horrible way possible, in a protracted and fear inducing manner. She pleaded for you to let her go.

“I live with those thoughts and visions every single day.

“I have no doubt her last thought was her very young children she left behind. The time of writing this is the eve of our son’s ninth birthday.

“He cried for her wearing her coat which shows her diminutive size. It will be sad each Christmas, birthday, family meal.”

Addressing the events surrounding the barbaric attack, Judge Keith Thomas told Manship at yesterday’s hearing: “It seems you met in a pub in Pontypridd and you went to a bar together.

“You picked up a bottle of vodka and went back to your flat. Shortly after 7am it appears Sarah was trying to arrange a taxi to leave. At 7.45am a neighbour could hear crashing and smashing and her saying ‘Get off me, leave me alone.’

“He saw her from a window looking distressed and dishevelled and injured, mouthing the words ‘help me’, and you screaming ‘get the f*** back in here.’

“Police were unable to gain access to the flat until 8.54am when she was fatally injured and you had fled through the window.

“She had been subject to a sustained assault throughout various rooms of the flat.”