A “safe haven” for the victims of crime has been opened at the Old Bailey, thanks to money raised by the family of murder victim Sally Hodkin.
Funds were also raised by the family of Elouise Littlewood to refurbish specialist rooms for those facing the stress and anguish of attending and giving evidence at trials.
Both families paid tribute to the support and guidance they received from the volunteers of the Witness Service, part of the Ministry of Justice-funded Victim Support charity.
Mrs Hodkin, 58, was standing at a bus stop in Bexleyheath when she was hacked to death by a convicted killer with a meat cleaver in 2011.
Ms Littlewood, 26, died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty boiler at her Bedfont home in 2008. Mrs Hodkin’s husband Paul and sons Ian and Len said they spent five weeks at the Old Bailey during the murder trial and were “incredibly well looked after by the Witness Service, who do an absolutely amazing job. It was a very emotional and difficult time for all of us. However, the support we received was invaluable and we cannot thank them enough.”
Ms Littlewood’s mother Sally Anne said: “We are saying thank you to an amazing bunch of people who give their time to help people like us to get through possibly the worst and hardest times in their lives.
“It is also about remembering Elouise who would be thrilled that something so lovely will help make things more comfortable for lots of families who will have to endure a similar situation to the one we had to face. The witness rooms are a safe haven from what is an intimidating environment.”
Victim Support chief executive Javed Khan, who officially unveiled the refurbished rooms last night, said he could not thank the families enough for their generosity.
“Thousands of witnesses and families pass through the Witness Service doors at the Old Bailey each year, finding a safe haven and somewhere reassuring to reside,” he said.
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“We know that sometimes the small things can make a big difference, and these rooms will go some way to making people feel more comfortable before they go into court.
Mrs Hodkin’s family organised a charity football match in May and Ms Littlewood’s father, Alan, and brother, Matthew, carried out a sponsored walk from Bedfont to the Old Bailey last September.
