THE distraught family of murdered jewellers Mohammed and Bilquis Karim say they will be haunted forever by the teenage killers who have shown no remorse for tearing their family apart.

The Karim family vented their full feelings about cold-blooded and callous murderers Christopher Gavin and Thomas O'Reilly in a letter handed to Judge David Clarke QC shortly before he passed sentence on the duo.

And the sentiments of the devastated family have been echoed by the police who investigated the murders.

The Karims, of Whalley Old Road, Little Harwood, Blackburn, died from multiple stab wounds and Bilquis suffered horrible stab wounds to her face when the pair attacked and robbed them in their Preston town centre shop, Tony's, in March.

Gavin, 19, of Dorman Road, Preston, pleaded guilty to the murders at the trial in Liverpool Crown Court.

His 17-year-old accomplice Thomas O'Reilly, of Surrey Road, Whitebirk, Blackburn, denied the murders but was found guilty after a trial.

Both admitted robbery. Gavin was sentenced to life yesterday and O'Reilly was detained at Her Majesty's pleasure. The teenagers showed little sign of emotion as they were sentenced. Gavin was described as ruthless and cowardly by the judge.

During the court case the Karim children heard a graphic account of how their parents died and were moved to tears.

The letter reads: "As the horrific details of the trial have demonstrated, our innocent and law abiding parents have been brutally and savagely murdered for financial gain.

"The violent murder of our mother and father was carried out by two youths that appear to be devoid of basic humanity or even a sense of remorse for their evil and contemptuous actions." The letter goes on: "A close knit and loving family - of which our parents were the bedrock, the guidance and indeed the protection - has been destroyed forever by premeditated acts of pure evil.

"The grief is a heavy burden to bear, the unthinkable circumstances of their untimely deaths haunt our very existence and any semblance of normality has become forever a thing of the past.

"Our family must now learn to live in fear. It is a terrible indictment on our society that evil such as this can even exist."

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Kellett said: "These two defendants despite their young age are very dangerous and violent people.

"I think the most chilling thing about this case was the calm manner of the two in the aftermath of the murders.

"Just minutes after the Karim's died they were laughing and joking with the taxi driver who took them to Blackburn.

"O'Reilly even found the time to joke with the driver and the way that they gave the him a large tip is a clear indication of the way they regarded what they had done"

Mr Kellett added: "Since they were arrested they have not shown the slightest bit of remorse, to police officers, to their own solicitors or to prison staff.

"I would also like to pay tribute to the Karim family who acted in a very dignified manner throughout the whole trial.

"They have been extremely co-operative ever since the murders and have continued to help us through what must have been a very harrowing experience."

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