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Four Girls Bereaved

Photos by Alex Sturrock Styling by Chloe Richardson

PHOTOS: ALEX STURROCK
STYLIST: CHLOE RICHARDSON
INTERVIEWS: JAMES KNIGHT

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ALEISHA TOWNSEND, 23
NW10 Girlfriend of Daniel Ross, who was fatally shot in the head at the age of 22 in the Scala nightclub, King’s Cross, London in September 2006. Vice: How did the news of Daniel’s shooting reach you? Aleisha: I was asleep at home and one of Daniel’s friends who had been with him at the club called me from his mobile and told me what had happened. I went straight to the hospital. They allowed me in after about 10 minutes to help identify him. I waited in the hospital with Daniel’s mum and dad for about a day by his bed until he was pronounced. What reminds you of Daniel? Being here in this house where he lived with me and his two kids. I could never forget him for a minute, I was seeing him for almost 6 years and his eldest looks like the image of him. He was just a smiley, loving person. He wasn’t one to argue and his main priority was his family. Now that is my responsibility. What would you say to kids who continue to carry guns on the street? Put the guns dem down. It is unnecessary and just not a natural thing. You have to wake up and see the bigger picture. You have to look at the family, the sons and the daughters. Think about the damage before you pull the trigger.

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RACHAEL ODGER, 26
High Wood, Colchester Sister of Westley Odger who was stabbed to death at 27 in a shopping centre in Colchester, Essex in September 2005. Vice: Can you remember where you were when you heard the news about Westley? Rachael: I was at home with my little daughter, I live two doors down from my mum and she knocked. As soon as I opened the door to her I knew something was wrong. She told me what had happened and what the police had told her on the phone and I just felt shocked and numb, like I could not move. With all the comings and goings it is difficult to remember how it felt. It just didn’t feel real. What did you feel towards the people that had done this to your brother? Hate. Just hatred. How does this particular place remind you of Westley? It is the park behind where he lived. We are a close family, we all lived around here, we would socialise together particularly on Christmas and birthdays. It reminds me of being young and outdoors and happy as well. I don’t have one single memory of him though. It changes all the time.

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STEPHANIE BULL, 17
Beckenham Best friend of Charity Josiene, who was shot on her way home from a party in Mottingham, East London at the age of 15 in March 2004. Her killer is still yet to be apprehended. Could you tell us what happened on the day of the incident? Stephanie:We went to a party in a youth hall because we wanted to go and see what it was like. As we were walking home through the woods it was all dark and I heard a gunshot, really loud, and Charity just dropped to the floor. I saw a person with a balaclava running off and I just dropped down and felt her neck to feel her heartbeat. I could feel it getting slower and slower and she just died right there in my arms. What was going through your mind at the time? I was so confused and scared, I just did not know what to do. My best friend was dying right there in front of me and there was nothing I could do. I felt that I was just going to be by myself, no one else. How do you remember Charity? She was really bubbly and outgoing, if she had something to say she would say it. You could always trust her. We used to listen to songs together and make up dances to go with the songs. That is what we used to do in this park, just hang out and dance and have fun. I have good memories of this place.

Thanks to the people at Don’t Trigger, the anti-gun crime charity. For more information, see dont-trigger.com