Karen Morrow

On the 25th March 2000 my husband and I were involved in a road traffic accident. A woman driving while under the influence of cocaine, cannabis, methadone and diazepam crossed two lanes of a dual carriageway to crash head on with our car. My husband survived for ten days with serious head injuries before contracting meningitis, as a result of a spinal flue leak from a skull fracture, which despite three operations doctors was unable to close. We were taken to separate hospitals and as a result I never saw Julian again, she stole my chance to say goodbye.

I had a fractured neck, crushed feet, a fractured radius and ulna in my right arm, fractured ankles and a dislocated right knee as well as burns requiring skin grafts on my leg. I was permanently disabled and in pain for the rest of my life. She stole my health and independence.

It took fifteen months to bring her to court, in which time I had to endure all attempts to delay her trial and claims she had had her human rights violated because she had been given a blood test whilst unconscious. Finally she was sentenced to five years imprisonment having killed two people and injured me but in fact only served two and a quarter years. She stole my faith in our legal system.

Because I have to rely on a wheelchair I was unable to return to my home as I lived in a third floor flat. She stole the home I shared with my husband.

Worst of all she has stolen Julian’s life. A smile that could light a room. A heart so big it helped anyone in need. He was kind, generous and just plain fun to be with. A son, an uncle, a brother- my best friend, my love. All these things describe who he was but don’t explain how to fill the void he leaves behind.

We will miss him always.