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For Greer Greer Lawrance was twenty when her obsessed boyfriend murdered her. Her sister Aimee remembers her and the effect of her death... The Lawrance sisters were close, and became closer as they grew up. They were two years apart. When Aimee was doing 'A' Levels and Greer was doing GCSE's, she thought Aimee was unbellievably square for wanting to go to university. But once Aimee was there, Greer visited and changed her mind.
Two years ago Greer was murdered. She'd met a bloke through friends in the pub. Greer realised after a couple of months that 'Eddie' wasn't for her, and finished the relationship. But Eddie became obsessive. He followed her when she went abroad, and would stalk her through the woods near their house.
Greer didn't go to the police because she thought she could cope with Eddie. In fact the police would have had very little power to do anything since he had not been violent.
On October 12th 2000, Greer went to meet Eddie for a drink, and to tell him once more that it was over. He was aggressive and the bouncers threw him out of the pub. That night he broke into their house through an attic window and strangled Greer while she was in bed.
After he'd killed her, Edwards stole her car, drove home, apparently attempted to kill himself and then rang the police to tell them he'd killed his girlfriend. Their Dad had been asleep below, and hadn't heard anything. He was woken by police saying 'We believe a murder has been committed here.' He led them up to Greer's room, where they discovered her body.
There was a lot of media interest at the time, and especially during the trial. In fact the media were very intrusive. Edwards changed his plea on the morning of the trial from guilty of manslaughter to murder.
Now every time she hears reports about the murder of someone, it pulls Aimee straight back to that time. The year after her death was a 'nothing year'. It was a period of limbo. Only after the trial were the family able to stert living again
When people ask if she has siblings - Aimee now says, 'yes I have a sister - but she died a couple of years ago'.
Aimee says she's a lot more guarded than used to be - just a lot more wary. But her friends have been wonderful.
MORE INFORMATION
The Greer Lawrance Foundation website has details of their aims and more information about Greer.
The Samaritans
Cruse Bereavement Care
Bereavement organizationsA list
SAMM
offers Support to families After Murder or Manslaughter
The Radio 4 Action line is: 0800 044 044
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