Mark had wanted to cause an explosion to cover up the evidence, but it'd failed Some of Phyllis’ ashes were made into a ring, which
I wore every day, so that she was always with me.
As Mark’s trial approached, I just couldn’t face seeing my nephew in the dock and hearing the gruesome evidence.
I’d friends in Kenya and decided to visit, wanting to be as far away as possible.
But my family-liaison officer kept in touch by e-mail.
Last December, Mark Hayes, 37, stood in the dock at Chelmsford Crown Court, and pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, the attempted murder of a man, and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
The court heard that Mark stabbed his mother about…