I cradled her, I saw her injuries, I knew she was gone – mother relives her agony
KATIE Rough’s mother cried out in anguish: ‘She’s killed my daughter’ when she arrived at the spot where her little girl had died, the court heard yesterday
She also cradled her dead daughter in her arms shortly after the killing.
Mother-of-four Alison Rough, 3 , was directed to the scene by police after dialling about her missing daughter. Officers had just taken a separate call from the killer.
Mrs Rough arrived with Katie’s father Paul, 35, moments after a police officer began attempts to resuscitation the little girl – but there was no signs of life. Mrs Rough told the BBC: ‘We found her at the same time as a police officer found her. I cradled her, I saw her injuries, I knew she was gone. And, I don’t know, it’s impossible to describe. We just held each other.’
The traumatised mother was led away from her daughter’s body as paramedics arrived to take over the battle to save Katie’s life.
The court heard Mrs Rough – aware of the other girl who had been with Katie – cried out in anguish: ‘She’s killed my daughter.’
A local resident also recalled how Mrs Rough collapsed in the street sobbing: ‘No, no, it’s my little girl.’
Describing her shock at such a crime in her home city, the witness added: ‘Things like that don’t happen in York, such a safe city, such a safe place, such a lovely, beautiful place.
‘People come from around the world to see York, so for this to happen here was just unbelievable.’
Since the tragedy the family have held charity events in Katie’s name. In May Mrs Rough described her daughter as ‘sassy and fun-loving’ when with friends and family.
‘She liked to pretend to be a little doggy. She liked to go to the nature reserves and running in the wood. She was happy to be outside and kicking in the mud.
‘She was not a traditional girly-girl at all. She was a strong-willed girl. She was beautiful. She was amazing.’
June Ferguson, Katie’s grandmother, said on ITV News last night: ‘The loss of Katie has taken a big toll on us as a family. Strangely it has brought us closer together as well.’
A girl sat alongside the grandmother – understood to be Katie’s sister – added: ‘You try to smile throughout the day when everyone is there but inside you don’t want to be smiling.’
‘Strong-willed and beautiful’