This post is the second in a series of a true event, with personal experiences of what unfolded in the media of 2005. It may be helpful to 1st read the prequel to this at:

http://open.salon.com/blog/jonmagee/2010/05/31/it_was_murder_literally_a_personal_experience

I answered the phone, it was my cousin on the other end. "Jon, we have some very bad news, I do not know all the details but aunt Winnie has been attacked and is in a very bad way."

It was late at night, and there was little I could do at that time. Mum was the oldest surving sister of her generation at the time. The only other living sibling that she had lived in Australia. I took the decision that to tell her late at night would serve no purpose other than to keep an elderly person worrying through out the night. Better to wait till the morning when we will all be fresh enough to talk things through. 

In the morning, the time had arrived. I took the morning newspapers around, made a cup of tea, which must always be a strong brew for her. We talked about the garden, which she loved, and her plans for the day, and then for the important news, Winnie. Mum showed in those moments that it was not just the tea that was strong as she took it all in and showed the resilience and determination of a lady who had survived the tragedies of facing international crises through out the world, beginning with the London blitz of WW 2.

There was no doubt  about how she felt emotionally, deep within, but there was a greater resolve that she would stay strong for her sister. As the time developed Winnie was to die as a result of the injuries sustained, and despite my thoughts that I needed to be with mum the instructions were clear, "I will survive!".  My orders were to head to London and take her place as her Power of attorney.

London, 2005. Initially came the visit to Winnie's home. The police had made it secure, Winnnie did not believe in locking her door but the police saw things differently. But it was not in her unlocked house that tragedy arose.

In a quiet street in Bigginhill Winnie was delivering her elderly friend (in her 90's) along with her shopping. Darren Stanger, who had been in trouble with the law since a young age of 12, was on the look out for easy prey. Newly out of prison he needed money for his drug addiction. "Excuse me ladies" he said, as he reached into the car to grab the handbag Winnie had left whilst seeing to her friends shopping. (is that what Americans call a purse?)  But he did not take into account the determined Winnie, who held on tight until she ended on the road with fatal injuries.

We gathered in the incident room as the police gathered to explain what had hppened and how the investigation was proceeding. None of us had heard the radio/TV news that morning. There were more important things to attended to. however, the opening remarks of the police told us we were not the only ones suffering that morning. "My apologies for keeping our mobile phones switched on. Normally we would switch them off whilst we had these kind of meetings with the family, but today is different."

It was London. It was the 7th July, later to be known as 7/7  much like the American infamous 9/11. Others were suffering, we were not alone. The media had bigger concerns this day. The report of 7/7 is seen in the link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/07/12/bomb_timeline_feature.shtml

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Next in the series can be found at:

http://open.salon.com/blog/jonmagee/2010/06/03/it_was_murder_pt_3_and_the_old_bailey_revelation

For those who wish to read more of my writings, the details of my book can be seen in the link to the left. See the cover design below.