He robbed my husband of his precious life. He doesn’t deserve to live
reaction was to get our son and go to the hospital to see my husband.
“But the policewoman told me she would bring our son to our house. I had to wait a whole hour in real agony of not knowing what was going on.
“Eventually they came and told me to sit down because they wanted to talk to me. I couldn’t believe my husband was dead. I kept repeating myself, ‘It can’t be real’.
“Our son didn’t know yet that his father had died in the train either.
“The police stayed for many hours because the pain from the loss was unbearable and shocking.
“Our son found it easier to grieve with his beloved beagle Benji.
“He spent two weeks in bed with his dog. That really helped him to overcome the loss.”
Lana and Lee met in Moscow and she moved to Britain to be with him. She says: “Lee was interested in Russian culture, history and classical music. His favourite composer was Shostakovich. He even learned Russian, but found it very difficult.
IDENTICAL
“We met in Moscow where I worked in fashion as a secretary with the famous designer Slava Zaitsev.
“I had lots of friends and a big family but I left it all to join Lee in Britain when we fell in love with each other.
“We had many common interests and our view on the world and life was practically identical so we could talk for hours about music, history, politics and social subjects.
“I called him ‘computer head’ because he knew practically everything about everything. He was like a living encyclopedia of all music ever created, from classical to rock or goth.
“He had a degree in art, he was a brilliant athlete and won lots of events in running. He loved rugby and football.
“He also had a Bachelor of Science in maths. Lee was very friendly with all people regardless of their colour or race.
“He had mates of different backgrounds and from different countries. He always stepped in if people needed help in difficult situations.
“It is impossible to describe this eternal loss.”
The senseless killing has also had a profound effect on Lee’s sister Kim Pomeroy, who has a shrine to her beloved brother at her home. They were born just a year apart in Bow, East London, and were great playmates as they grew up. Kim tells how Lana and Lee chose to live in Surrey because it was safer than the capital.
Medical PA Kim, 51, also says Lee didn’t like confrontation but always stood up to bullies.
She believes he only confronted Pencille because he thought his son was at risk.
Kim says: “He (Pencille) was aggressive and looking to cause trouble over a very minor incident. Then he threatened Lee. He said, ‘It won’t end nicely. Put your hand on me’. After enduring this for quite some time, Lee did stand up and clench his fist. But he did that because he saw this aggressive screaming man as a threat to his son.
“He stood up because he wanted to get him away from his son, who was scared. Lee was brave and that is why he is not here any more. His family came first, especially his son.
Kim also recalls the time Lee heroically tackled a thief.
She says: “Several years ago Lee was sitting in a café in London and he saw a man snatch a woman’s handbag.
“Lee gave chase and wrestled the bag from the thief. This sums up my brother. He was very protective, especially of women and children.
“He was the sort of man that made the world a better place.”