The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Daughter speaks of her relief at death of ‘pawn’
Bethany Haines tells how she wanted answers from her father’s murderer
The grieving daughter of murdered Scottish aid worker David Haines yesterday spoke of her relief after learning that her father’s killer could finally be dead.
Mr Haines’ terrorist captors released an internet video of his execution last year, sparking international outrage.
His killer, known as Jihadi John, was later unmasked as British man Mohammed Emwazi, a former IT graduate who joined IS after travelling to Syria in 2012.
Yesterday, Emwazi was believed to have died in a series of airstrikes on an IS stronghold.
Defence chiefs told US news outlets they were 99% certain he was dead.
Mr Haines’ daughter Bethany, from Scone, had previously said she would only get closure when there was “a bullet between the eyes” of her father’s killer.
In a statement to ITV News yesterday, she said: “After seeing in the news that Jihadi John was killed, I felt an instant sense of relief, knowing that he wouldn’t appear in any more horrific videos.
“He was only a pawn in IS’s stupid game, but knowing it’s over, that he’s finally dead still hasn’t sunk in.”
She added: “As much as I wanted him dead, I also wanted answers as to why he did it. Why my dad? How did it make a difference?”
IS leaders yesterday insisted that Emwazi had survived the bombing, but eyewitnesses claimed the hospital they said he was taken to is now closed.
US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed Emwazi was targeted in the strikes.
He said: “We are still assessing the results of this strike but the terrorists associated with Daesh (another name for IS) need to know this – your days are numbered and you will be defeated.”
Mr Haines, 44, was taken hostage after terrorists shot out the tires of the vehicle he was travelling in on a remote country road.
Prime Minister David Cameron described the former Perth Academy pupil’s murder as an “act of pure evil”.
Mr Haines’ widow said her husband’s executioner “didn’t deserve to die so easily”.
Dragana, 45, who lives in Croatia with the couple’s five-year-old daughter, said the unconfirmed killing brought her no relief as she wanted to see him brought to justice in court.
“I really wish it was handled a different way – I would like to have seen if he could have looked us in the eyes,” she said.
“The perfect way for all of us would have been to see him in a courtroom.
“He has killed my husband and his death doesn’t change anything for us.”