I'm numb with shock that my Claudia's best friend was murdered

THE mother of missing Claudia Lawrence has told how she sobbed in agony after discovering her daughter's childhood best friend had been murdered.

- MICHELLE RAWLINS and LUCY THORNTON

Joan Lawrence, whose chef daughter is suspected to have been murdered after she disappeared in 2009, said Claudia and Lisa Welford were inseparable as little girls.

Lisa, 49, was drowned by her abusive partner Vincent Morgan, 47, who is due to be sentenced today after being convicted of killing her.

Leeds crown court heard Morgan held Lisa's head under water in the River Derwent, near Joan's home in Malton, North Yorks.

Joan said: "I was devastated. I felt numb with shock.

"How could two children that had grown up together have such terrible things happen to them?" Police revealed Morgan had a long history of domestic abuse against Lisa and was on bail when he killed her.

Joan, 81, described Lisa and Claudia as a pair of angels, adding: "They were the best of friends from starting school.

Lisa was like Claudia's shadow.

"They went everywhere together.

They were very close and got on so well. It was such a happy friendship." On hearing that Lisa had been killed, she said: "I just couldn't believe it. I didn't cope well at all.

"I went home and sobbed, as I thought about that little girl who had been such a big part of our lives for so long. I still haven't walked past that section of the river. I can never walk there again.

PANIC