FAMILY'S COURAGE We FORGAVE our girl's killer

Faced with the tragic death of her daughter Maria, forgiveness, not fury, saved Elizabeth

- KATE GRAHAM

Elizabeth Jimenez, 52

I love you,' Maria said as we wrapped up our daily phone call.

'Love you too,' I said, smiling at the thought of my kind, joyful, 24-year-old daughter. I had no idea this was the last time I'd hear her sweet voice.

Whether she was helping her big brother Joshua, then 27, or buying me beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day, Maria was always thinking about other people.

'Mum,' she announced excitedly one day in 2017, I've applied to be a teacher in Korea. I can't wait.'

That's wonderful!' I said, hugging her, but knowing how much I'd miss her.

A few months later, she pulled me aside at church.

"There he is!' she said, pointing out a young man across the crowded room.

His name was Nick. He'd moved here from Singapore to study and was in Maria's music group.

With her radiant smile I could see she really liked him. So I was happy to hear she was going out for dinner with him a few weeks later. I couldn't wait to hear all about it.

But at 8 am the next morning, my husband Fernando walked in, his face ashen.

'Elizabeth,' he said. 'You need to sit down.' I could see something terrible had happened.

What is it? I thought, fear rising in me as Fernando knelt down at my feet.

'You must be strong,' he said, holding my hands tight. 'Our baby girl died in a car crash this morning.'

I collapsed to the floor, sobbing in Fernando's arms, my heart shattered.

Through his own tears, Fernando told me what had happened.