Krystal's mother speaks of grief

Thomas Hughes was sentenced to life for Krystal Hart's murder

The fiancé of murdered Krystal Hart was left broken-hearted by the loss of the "woman of his dreams", her family said today.

Krystal's mother, Deborah Penfold, told the court how the murder had affected her:

The horror of her murder haunts me. My beautiful daughter had her life taken away. I think of all the details. Was she conscious? How long was she lying there?

I think constantly about Krystal's life. What was it all for? I look at her photos and personal belongings a lot. What hurts most is not to see her smile again.

Her death has left a big empty space. We have a lot of frustration and anger and it won't go away.

She had an unborn child. When he fired that gun at Krystal that baby's fate was sealed. The baby would have been born in November. Two lives were taken.

The ripples from that one act have spread deeply and far beyond our family.

Krystal's boyfriend, David Siveter, has lost it all. He has lost the woman of his dreams, his unborn child and the chance to start a family. He and Krystal had lots of big plans. My heart bleeds for him.

I have suffered stress, palpitations, exhaustion. I wake up frequently. I am not able to work. I feel like a robot. It's always at the back of my mind. I have no interest or enthusiasm whereas before I loved my work.

I can't return to my home because it's where Krystal was murdered. I'm still waiting to be rehoused by the housing association.

If Krystal had had an illness and God took her that would have been bad enough but to be murdered is just unbearable.

Our hearts are broken and will never mend.

I want justice for my grandchild as well as my daughter.

But no sentence will make up for our loss. It will only protect other decent people.