How could he take MY SISTER FROM ME

Lisa Woolley's sister was stabbed 54 times by the man who was meant to love her

- VERONIQUE HAWKSWORTH

When I think about my sister Kerry, I remember the good times – doing each other’s hair and make-up as teenagers or curled up on the sofa together giggling. Two years younger than me, Kerry was like my shadow and we did everything together. We met our first boyfriends around the same time, Kerry aged 14 and me aged 16. There was no doubting why Kerry’s boyfriend Eddie* had fallen for her bubbly personality and gorgeous smile. While my young love didn’t last, Kerry and Eddie’s did and they went on to have two children together Billy* and Samantha.* In the meantime, I found love with my friend Steve, and we started building our life together.

As Kerry’s kids grew up and she furthered her career as a team manager at an insurance company, we were still more like best friends than sisters. But even though Kerry seemed fine on the surface, by 2017 I had noticed she was drinking a lot and pleaded with her to stop. I worried that stress from juggling work and being a mum was getting to her, fuelling a problematic relationship with alcohol.

Later that year, in June, Kerry split from Eddie after 20 years. As Kerry wrestled with her alcohol problems, she moved to an apartment so that Eddie and the children could remain in the family home. It was so upsetting seeing her so low. Kerry and Eddie shared custody, but I could tell that not seeing Billy and Samantha every day was getting to her.