Justice for Colette

by Jacqui Kirkby, Veronica Clark

When Jacqui Kirby’s 16 year-old daughter Colette went missing just minutes after leaving home, her mother knew instinctively that something was very wrong. Colette had left to walk to her boyfriend’s home but never arrived. The following morning her body was found by her elder brother Mark. Colette’s body had been arranged in a provocative pose and left by a hedgerow. What Mark saw that cold October morning would haunt him for the rest of his life. The police launched one of the biggest manhunts ever seen and the inquiry was to last over a quarter of a century. Colette’s killer, Paul Hutchinson, not only managed to evade capture but also led a double-life, slipping back into a respectable position in the community as a charity and children’s worker. After Jacqui appeared on Crimewatch to appeal for information the police were provided with many leads but still no killer. While the investigation continued Jacqui was tormented by ghoul hunters and pranksters who taunted her family with crank calls. Paul Hutchinson even sent police “ripper” style letters in which he wrote "you’ll never catch me." But the police did catch him, using a relatively new technique of DNA profiling. The chance arrest of Paul’s son, for a minor motoring offense, years after Colette’s murder led cold-case detectives directly to Paul’s door. After 26 years he was now cornered. Colette’s murder not only robber Jacqui of her daughter, but also her marriage and, at times, her sanity, but she never gave up hope. This is her remarkable story of how she never gave up on getting justice for Colette.

Genres: True Crime

274 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2012

Reviews

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painful to read, this account of Colette Aram's death is told by the rain who knew her best - her mother Jacqui. Jacqui describes the turmoil, anguish and heartbreak her family has gone through ever since 30th October 1983 when beautiful Colette was brutally attacked and murdered. Only 25 years on was the killer finally brought to justice, but that wasn't the end of Jacqui's nightmare. Gripping to read.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have a programme here called Crimewatch which has been running almost 30 years now. It's caught a lot of criminals in its time. Colette's murder was the first reconstruction ever featured and was featured three times over the years. This is because it took 26 years before her murderer was eventually caught !! She was sadly killed in 1983 and was only 2 years younger than me and I don't recall the photo of her but did remember that she was found very close to home. Her name wasn't familiar to me either and I always follow cases like this and always watch the TV show as well so I hate that her family's story somehow slipped by me !!
This murder tore her whole family apart and Jacqui, her mum, the author, tells you what happened behind-the-scenes and some of it is jawdropping stuff. The police insisting on searching their loft before the streets, the arsehole solicitor who refused to let them film the reconstruction on his side of the street and the fact so many people avoided Jacqui after the event and wouldn't speak to her !! Then of course all the shite in our justice system that worries about a prisoner's rights......
Colette's brother Mark suffered especially after losing his little sister. One sentence in particular had me sobbing......the day Jacqui brought baby Colette home from hospital Mark said "Is that my baby, Mummy ?" She was always adored by him and his life was totally ruined by her loss.
It certainly opened my eyes about all the happenings behind-the-scenes of such a horrible, life-altering event and Jacqui told it well. I admire the way she held her head high upon encountering the killer in court.....there's no way I'd have behaved with the dignity she and her whole family did.
It's a book I'd highly recommend.
It's a pity too that Amazon and here on Goodreads that Jacqui's surname is misspelt, by the way !!

[Anna Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and such a sad book. I am glad they caught the guy even though it took 26 years. DNA is a wonderful tool and criminals cannot hide away like before. I felt the family were not supported enough to cope with such a trauma. No wonder the marriage fell apart. When eventually caught because his son had committed a road traffic offence, this evil piece of scum wanted to blame his recently deceased brother for the murder/rape. This piece of scum had married twice and had kids. He even gave one of his girls the middle name Collette.
In court he suddenly became the poor sick old guy that butter would not melt During the 26 years of trying to find him he followed/taunted and harassed the Mum by phone. He died in prison before he was even halway through a life sentence. I would recommend this book 100%.

I had just one disappointment at the end I had hoped their would have been some family photos of the happier times before Collette was brutally murdered. I hope Jacqui you got some sort of closure, of course it will never brings Collette back. Remember you got justice, you never failed Collette once. Do not blame yourself.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read. The story was very interesting and it grabbed me. One moment I tried to think how I would feel if something happened to my daughter and it made me feel so horrible, I had to quickly remove that thought. Really I think I would make sure that once the killer is caught i would kill him! Not caring if I have to spend my days in prison.(but I do not have other children to take care of) It made it so much more harder for the family for not knowing who had done the deed and thinking it was someone from the same town where they lived.

Just a few notes: There was a chapter where she met a physic. Not sure if that is the right word. Someone who could make contact with people that have passed. Things that she said were that Coleen knew the guy and stepped in his car, and there were other clues. I bookmarked them, thinking that once we knew who had done it, they would come true, but there was no follow up in the book.

I also think that the mum was sometimes a bit harsh to people, and I felt she neglected her son, but hey, I am not in her shoes so I do not know how I would react.
Interesting read.

[Alison Rood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having previously worked for the forensics company which helped nail Paul Hutchinson, I was very interested in reading this book and learning more about Colette and her family. The book was ok, an easy read. But I found it very repetitive, sometimes things were repeated within a couple of pages of each other, then also in chapters later on. Of course, this was written by a grieving mother, not a professional writer, so I guess allowances have to be made. I found the tone of the book quite me me me, and some parts very contradictory. Doesn't want to be constantly known as the "murdered girls mum" - but then brings it up on the bus, in the airport etc. Petitioned to bring back capital punishment, but then felt cheated he died.... Mixed messages throughout. And lots of parts I didn't feel relevant to the purpose of the book. Either way, it's a sad, haunting story. And I'm glad justice was finally found for Colette. RIP

[Ruth Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, but not particularly well told.

I had no sense of the characters, their grief, their anguish. I could have been reading the story on Wikipedia.

Nevertheless, it's a sad, heartbreaking story. A parent's worst nightmare.

[L. Penn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting back to my true life crime books, this one clearly left me heartbroken for I remembered the case so well, left school the same year as poor Colette's murder, 1983. I hope writing this book bought some closure to her dear Mum Jacqui as none can understand the absolute horror unless you too are a victim. Why judges don't give whole-of-life sentences for taking a life makes me furious. More books like this need to be on everyone's bookshelf. Simple, poignant, true. Nicely paced with brief chapters that explain everything and wording you can tell is from a mother's heart.

[stephen smitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colette ❤

This is a very difficult book to read. Its hard to imagine the shock and grief Colettes family have been through losing their beautiful innocent 16 year old daughter who was murdered by a dispicable disgusting evil peace of scum. I hope he's rotting in hell. I sincerely hope that Colettes family can go on and have a happy life until they meet their daughter again, which I sincerely believe they will.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written account of a mother's fight for justice for her murdered daughter.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow - what a powerful story. Even more harrowing because it's a true account of a mother's heartache at the murder of her daughter and the years of pain until the killer is caught. Loved this book.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although this was a heartfelt account of the breakdown of the family, I found it and the author very depressing. Glad it was a short book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sad and tragic story but well written so glad they got some justice in the end and the killer was jailed but definitely worth a read