Jean Taylor’s sister, son and daughter were brutally murdered. Now she fights for . . . JUSTICE
rstoddart@dcthomson.co.uk
JUSTICE campaigner Jean Taylor tries not to dwell on why fate dealt her such a cruel hand.
The founder of Families Fighting for Justice (FFFJ) charity lost her sister, son and daughter in the space of six traumatic years — all three brutally killed in separate incidents.
In 1998 her life was turned upside down when her sister, Joyce, died from serious injuries after being attacked in her London home. Noone has ever been convicted.
Losing a loved one in such a horrific way left a deep emotional wound, but it was only the beginning of Jean’s nightmare.
Just two years later her 31-yearold son Stephen was asleep at home in Liverpool when a troubled ex- girlfriend let herself into his flat and injected him with the drug diamorphine. He fell into a coma and never recovered. His killer was given three- and- a- half years for manslaughter.
Jean was still grieving when tragedy struck again in 2004. Her 27- year- old daughter, Chantel, vanished one night and was never found. Former soldier Stephen Wynne was later found guilty of her murder after bone parts belonging to her were found in his garden.
“I didn’t have a great childhood, so I put everything into making sure my children were happy,” says the Liverpudlian great-grandmother.
“People ask if I wonder why this happened to me. I believe in God and that there’s a better place. When my time comes and I get the
I’ll always be an outspoken voice. My brother-in-law likens me to Boudica
chance to ask, I expect God will have a good explanation.
“The perpetrators of these crimes will not get the satisfaction of turning me into a victim.”
Joan launched FFFJ after leading a march to Downing Street in 2008 with a petition signed by thousands backing a call for a life sentence to mean life. This came in the wake of a successful appeal by her daughter’s killer to have his life sentence cut from 21 to 18 years.
“If someone gets life then they should serve life,” adds Jean. “Why should they be given freedom they have denied others?”
The FFFJ campaign not only fights for justice in cases of unlawful killings, but is also a support group for victims’ families.
Jean recently gave evidence to The House of Commons Justice Committee. Its findings were in line with her call for tougher regulation on the law of joint enterprise — where someone who agrees to commit a crime with another person is also held responsible for whatever crime the other person perpetrates.”
The FFFJ is undertaking initiatives to help young people touched with the consequences of violent death.
Jean added: “I’ve been left to bring up Chantel’s son, Joseph, and with so many questions it hasn’t been easy for either of us. It’s the children left behind who are often the forgotten victims.”
There is a six-minute anti-gang film for schools to download on the FFFJ website, while a book, Olly (Our Lost Love Years), written by Jean and Joseph, helps young people through the bereavement process.
Jean admitted her experiences have left a mark on her health. She suffers from ME, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, high blood pressure and phobias.
“Joyce wasn’t just my sister, she was my best friend. We shared a bed when we were kids. Stephen was the rock of the family. He saw good in everyone and that might have cost him his life.
“As for Chantel, how could someone do that to my little girl? She was mutilated in a bath and I can’t have a bath without someone being close by. I can’t help but think she shouted my name for help.”
Jean takes strength from her family, including two remaining sons and a daughter, 17 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She added: “My own mother, Doreen, died at just 48. She’d be proud of me but I often think she’d say: ‘I don’t know where you get it from!’ She was a shy, softly spoken lady. In contrast, I’ll always be an outspoken voice. My brother-in-law likens me to Boudica.
“On my mum’s gravestone is the line: ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ from The Wizard Of Oz. I often think that it isn’t a pot of gold that’s over the rainbow but peace of mind. You don’t get that without justice.”
For more information go to www. familiesfightingforjustice.org.