DCI Kath Way on the convictions of Sian Hedges and Jack Benham
DCI Kath Way from Kent Police on the convictions of Sian Hedges and Jack Benham
Transcript
00:00 This is a fantastic result and we really feel that justice has been served for Alfie and his family today.
00:05 Sian Hedges, Alfie's own mother who should have been there to keep him safe and to protect him,
00:10 along with her boyfriend Jack Benham, have caused such unimaginable pain and suffering to Alfie.
00:16 They subjected him to so much violence, it was torturous and it was wicked.
00:20 At no point during this investigation or this trial had they taken responsibility for what they've done
00:25 and that's meant that the family have had to endure a lengthy trial listening to the horrendous details of what Alfie has been put through
00:31 and the web of lies that have been told.
00:34 This has been a really difficult and emotional trial for everyone involved, not least the jury members,
00:39 but their decision today and their verdicts have meant that Sian Hedges and Jack Benham will be held accountable for their crimes.
00:45 Alfie's family have asked me to read a statement on their behalf.
00:49 On Sunday 26th May 2019, Alfie came into our lives and blew us all away.
00:55 It's hard to describe the love we had for him, but it was instant and unconditional.
01:00 He completed our lives. Alfie was a reason for us all to exist, a reason to live,
01:05 and we felt like our best friend had arrived on the day he was born.
01:09 We yearned to see him every day, but then that day came, the day he was killed and he was gone.
01:16 It has taken three years for the investigation and trial process into Alfie's death to finish.
01:21 We've had to listen to the horrific details of what Sian and Jack did to Alfie,
01:25 how they assaulted him again and again. He suffered so much pain.
01:30 In these years, we've not had the closure and even after the trial, we feel that we still deserve answers.
01:36 The only people with these answers are Sian and Jack, but they've refused to say what's happened to him.
01:41 Still to this day, they refuse to take responsibility.
01:45 They've never shown any remorse for what they did, and we will never know the truth as to what happened to Alfie.
01:51 Alfie was so cruelly taken from us that day. Every day we are hurting.
01:56 Our shining light that shone so bright will always be in our hearts.
02:01 We have such special memories of our short time with Alfie, and these memories keep us going in the darkest of days.
02:07 We, as a family, would like to thank everyone who helped bring this case to court.
02:12 From Kent Police's Serious Crime Team, all the way up to the jury and the judge.
02:16 A very massive thank you has to go to all the officers in the case for their professionalism,
02:21 integrity and utmost respect for us as a family in dealing with this traumatic situation
02:26 and their thoughtfulness towards us throughout the trial.
02:29 Thank you from Alfie and his family.