Remembering the sister and brother whose lives were destroyed by a killer

David and Tracey Keighley’s world came crashing down when Melissa Liddle was killed by her partner and father of her two children, last year on Mother’s Day.

Unable to cope with the death of his sister, 21-year-old Liam Bush – who discovered the 23-year-old’s body in the house she shared with Anthony Ross – died just weeks before Christmas.

In a bid to help to ease the burden of paying for a second funeral, Community Corner – run by mother and daughter Lynne Davis and Cheryl McDonald – stepped in and paid for the service.

To say thank you to people for their kindness since the death of the siblings, Melissa and Liam’s mum Tracey and stepdad David organised a fundraising night in aid of Community Corner.

The event, held at the Whiteleas Club on Friday, also celebrated their aunt Andrea Tennet’s 40th birthday – the day Liam died.

Raffles were held throughout the night helping to raise £1,742 for Community Corner.

Mrs Keighley said: “We are just so grateful to everyone for their help and support.

“With everything we have been through, the kindness people have shown us has given us a little bit strength and faith in humanity.

“What they do at Community Corner is amazing and what they have done for me and my family, we are just so grateful.”

Mr Keighley said: “It was a great night and a sell-out. It was our way of saying thank you to everyone for their support, they really have been a tower of strength 
during some of our darkest days.

“It was also our chance to do something to try and give something back to Community Corner for they help they gave us towards Liam’s funeral.”

The couple also wished to thank Demi Liddle, Paige Keighley and Nikki Keighley for their help organising the event and Wendy Kassim for her support.

Community Corner has a shop in Edinburgh Road, Jarrow, which sells donated goods to raise cash for good causes in South Tyneside. Items are also sold over social media.

Mrs Davis said: “We are so grateful for what Tracey and David and their family have done for us.

“It is just heartwarming to know that we were able to ease some of the financial pressures at a time when their family’s world had been turned upside down for a second time in as many months –then think of us for the fundraising night and raise such a fantastic amount we really can’t thank them enough.

“Helping the community was exactly why we set Community Corner up.”

l Anthony Ross is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds 
of diminished responsibility.

Ross had stabbed Melissa 41 times in the home they shared in Oak Avenue, South Shields on Mother’s Day, last year.