The girl who touched many lives

By Rebecca Atkins
BBC News, Manchester

Kesha Wizzart appeared on Stars in Your Eyes (Photo: MEN)

It should have been the start of a wonderful summer.

With A-level exams over, the prediction of good grades and a £5,000 bursary to study law at the University of Manchester, it seemed 18-year-old Kesha Wizzart had the world at her feet.

The youngster, who had amazed television audiences with her 2004 appearance on Stars In Their Eyes: Kids, performing the Toni Braxton hit Unbreak My Heart, was excited about going to university and had her sights set on being a barrister.

But her life - along with that of her mother Beverley Samuels and her 13-year-old brother Fred Wizzart - was cut short in the most savage of ways in July 2007.

Stripped naked and raped, her arms bound by her own bra, Miss Wizzart was then bludgeoned to death with a 2lb hammer by her mother's former boyfriend Pierre Williams, 33, who was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of murdering the family.

'Amazing smile'

The shocking way in which she died was hard for friends to come to terms with but, eight months on, they are slowly finding they are able to focus more on the wonderful times they shared with her than on the brutality of her death.

But, as her friends start making plans to meet up in the Easter holidays while home from university, their happiness and excitement is tempered by Miss Wizzart's absence.

Caitriona Burgum, who went to school with Miss Wizzart and who is now at university, said: "We all saw each other at the funeral.

Over time you come to terms with what happened but I don't think you ever really understand it Caitriona Burgum, friend

"It was one of the first times since high school that everyone had got together. It was really sad - it would have been nice if it had been a different occasion and if Kesha had been there.

"The nature of what happened makes it a lot harder to believe. At the time when somebody tells you, you go into complete shock.

"It doesn't seem to make sense. I don't think something like that ever really sinks in with people.

"Over time you come to terms with what happened but I don't think you ever really understand it.

"The important thing is memories of her and that's something everybody has. She was a really bright star and had an amazing smile.

"Now when her name pops up in conversation you tend to think less of the event and more of what she was like as a person.

The balloons were released by her friends

"She was always really happy, smiley, cheerful to everybody. She was somebody who was approachable to talk to. You could always go to her if you needed anything.

"She had a beautiful voice and as well as doing performances, she would sing around the school, or in the toilets, the classroom and even walking down the corridor."

Scores of balloons released by friends in her memory on the day she would have received her A-level results (two As and a B) and three groups on the social networking site Facebook dedicated to Miss Wizzart are testament to the teenager's popularity.

One friend reflects on the site about her leaving him some memories to smile about while another mentions how it was she who persuaded him to go to university.

A neighbour who lived in the same street as Miss Wizzart also recollects times when she could hear the teenager singing when she was in her bedroom with the window open.