THE wife of Ken Turnbull has told how her family had been 'shattered' by the death of the father-of-four.
And Anita Turnbull has condemned Terence Gaskin as a 'coldblooded killer.'
Anita said: "Ken was just a normal family man who did everything for his kids.
“His family meant everything to him. He worked hard, he grafted hard.
“If they wanted anything he got it for them. They never went without. For him to be taken away like this, it has shattered our lives.
"Ken was walking home, back to us, minding his own business. He didn't deserve any of this.
“Gaskin knew he was going to run across the road and punch Ken. To me that is a cold blooded killing.
"But what ever sentence they gave it was never going to bring Ken back."
Mrs Turnbull her family’s pain was ‘never ending’.
She added: “I don't want Gaskin to block out all our good memories of Ken with that pain."
"Some days I feel like my life has ended but I think I have got to be strong for everyone else."
Ken's children from his first marriage, Mark, 27, Andrew, 24, and Oliver, 16, and his 12-year-old daughter, Abigail, with Anita, are struggling to come to terms with his death.
"He used to go to Rovers with his boys," said Anita. "Andrew worked with Ken as a kitchen fitter but he isn't sure if he can carry it on on his own."
She added: "Abby was into gymnastics and used to compete for Lancashire. She won a few gold medals and Ken was so proud. If he wasn't working on a Saturday he would take her shopping.
"Ken would take her to school and pick her up. It must be heartbreaking to see me waiting at the gates instead. She must wish it was her dad.
"Now I lie in bed and listen to her cry herself to sleep and there is nothing I can do or say to make it any better.”
Anita and Ken had been a couple for 16 years and married for eight.
She said: "I had to go to the original appearance to see Gaskin. It didn't make it any better. He sat there mouthing that he was sorry. It meant nothing. He doesn't realise how many lives he has devastated.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article