MUM’S FURY AT ‘RELEASE’
Amum whose daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend said she is “in pieces” about a decision to grant him day release to go to his father’s funeral – nine years after she was killed.
In June 2009, Jenna Thomas, 21, was strangled by nightclub bouncer Phillip Steven Packer, 50, after he refused to accept their relationship had broken down.
The pair had met at Apollo nightclub in Porthcawl, where Miss Thomas worked as a barmaid, and Packer as a doorman.
Packer’s marriage broke up and the couple moved into a flat on the Esplanade in Porthcawl, but their relationship deteriorated as Packer became more controlling.
In May 2009 Miss Thomas moved back into her family home in North Cornelly, but Packer struggled to come to terms with the end of the relationship and bombarded her with text messages and telephone calls.
Miss Thomas then met a new man, Ian Walters, who was the same age as her, and Packer soon confronted her about seeing him.
On June 24, he offered to drive Miss Thomas to work, took her to a café for some breakfast and then drove her to a Stormy Down lay-by, where he killed her.
He then drove her body to the town’s police station.
Now he’s set to be on day release on Friday, to attend his father’s funeral – to the disgust of Jenna’s mother.
Kay Thomas, 60, from North Cornelly near Bridgend, was only informed of the decision a week before by her victim liaison officer – and now she fears she won’t be able to stop it going ahead.
“As far as I’m concerned he should have lost his rights when he strangled my daughter,” she said.
“A lot of my family’s ashes are buried there [at the crematorium]. Can you imagine how angry I am?
“It’s nine years on Sunday that he strangled her. I don’t think he should have the right to come out. I’ve got no rights at all. I’m in pieces. How would any mother feel?
“Because he couldn’t have her, nobody could have her.”
Kay has now appealed the decision. The Ministry of Justice said it could not comment on individual cases.
Nine years after the terrible incident, Kay is still struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
“I’m the same as ever,” she said. “It was as if it was yesterday.
“I miss her ever so much. I write to her every night on Facebook.
“It was my 60th birthday on June 11 and I just cried because she can’t be with us. Any family celebration, it doesn’t get easier.
“You don’t get over it.
“I’ve been ill ever since this happened with fibromyalgia and I’m in a wheelchair now. My doctor says it’s stress.
“She wouldn’t harm a fly and she was just so beautiful.”
Jenna has a twin, Nikki , who mum Kay said is doing well.
“It took 10 years to have the girls and they were just so precious,” she said.
“Nikki’s okay. I’m so glad she threw herself into education. It affected her but I’m glad she did what she did.”