Mum of lakeside murder victim calls for tougher knife crime laws
Lauretta, Micheal Ugwa's mum has questioned the lack of fear shown by his assailants as they took his life in broad daylight.
Last updated 29th Jul 2023
In a heart-wrenching plea for justice and reform, Lauretta, the mother of Michael Ugwa, who was brutally murdered in the Food Mall of the Lakeside Shopping Centre on 28 April 2022, has opened up about her family's devastating loss and the need for harsher sentencing to combat knife crime.
Outside court, Lauretta shared the profound impact of her son's untimely death on her family. She expressed the unbearable pain and void left by the senseless act of violence.
"The impact of Michael's murder on our family is difficult to put into words... The pain of his absence is felt every day in our lives."
Michael's children have been deeply affected by the tragedy, with his 2-year-old daughter still awaiting her father's return and his 8-year-old son waking up crying for him every night. His absence has left an indelible mark on the family, with his siblings also struggling to cope with the loss of their much-loved brother.
Lauretta emphasized Michael's compassionate nature, even in the face of danger, recalling how he tried to calm frightened children and families during the attack. She expressed her sorrow over how many other kind and compassionate people like Michael have lost their lives to knife crimes, leaving devastated families in their wake.
Throughout the six-week trial, the family had to endure the painful process of reliving Michael's murder repeatedly, which has compounded their grief. Lauretta called for longer sentences in cases like her son's, stating, "Perhaps a change to impose longer sentences for cases like Michael’s could be the way forward... the deterrence such an objective could create would most likely lead to a substantial decline in knife crime."
While expressing gratitude to Essex Police and the Family Liaison Officers for their support, Lauretta remains deeply concerned about the impact of the legal process on her family's healing. She explained, "Even after they are sentenced to prison, they will eventually be released back into society after serving their terms but unfortunately for Michael, the same does not apply to him. These murderers will serve their sentences and pick up their lives but our family will never truly heal from the loss of Michael."
In her emotional plea, Lauretta urged for change in sentencing laws and emphasized the importance of preventing similar tragedies from occurring in the future. She concluded with a message of hope, expressing that Michael has found eternal rest with the Lord, and her family holds the prayer that no other family will have to go through their experience.