Parents' relief at Noye verdict

Toni and Ken Cameron: Relief at sentence

Stephen Cameron's parents have spoken of their relief that their son's murderer has finally been sentenced but said the decision was "not a joyous occasion".

"Our lovely son Stephen is dead and our lives will never be the same again," Stephen's mother Toni said.

"We will never feel the happiness that we once had."

For our beloved Stephen to lose his life and in such a wicked, senseless way, is very difficult for us to bear

Toni Cameron

Stephen's father Ken, sitting alongside his wife at a press conference, said the last four years had been a torment.

"The uncertainty of not knowing whether we would get justice for our son tore us apart," he said.

Mrs Cameron said they did not wish to make any comment about their son's killer, notorious criminal Kenneth Noye.

"We believe people will know exactly how we must feel about him," Mrs Cameron said.

Wicked

"It is hard to put into words our feelings. We are still experiencing overwhelming grief, as any parents who have lost a child will understand."

"For our beloved Stephen to lose his life - a life with so much future - and in such a wicked, senseless way, is very difficult for us to bear," she told the press conference.

The Camerons thanked their friends and family for their support over the last four years which, they said, had helped them cope with their ordeal.

They also thanked Stephen's fiancée Danielle Cable who was with him the night he died.

Danielle Cable: Camerons said she had been an inspiration to them

"She has been through so much and continues to be so strong," Mrs Cameron said.

"She has been an inspiration to us and may serve as an inspiration to anyone else who might find themselves in such an unfortunate position. We love her like a daughter and always will. Stephen would have been proud of her."

Stephen's father Ken said he was not worried about the way his son was portrayed in court by Noye.

"People can say what they like and think what they like about our son," he told the press conference. "We know what he was like and that is all that worries us."

Det Supt Dennis McGookin also praised Miss Cable's bravery.

"She watched her fiancée get stabbed to death when she was only 17," he said.

"Her courage in sticking by the investigation and coming to court and giving evidence against a man like Kenneth Noye is somewhat outstanding and is a great tribute to that young lady and should be a good example to everyone throughout the country."