Gary Forster makes appeal to cut jail sentence

Mar 14 2009 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

In court his defence team said that hairdresser Forster had on the night of the tragedy been extremely upset believing his long-term relationship with his partner was over.

After fleeing the scene he got a taxi to the house of a friend, in the hope that she would be able to reconcile Forster with his boyfriend.

Shocking images of the vehicle were made public by Mr Turnbull’s family following Forster’s sentence in December.

Mr Turnbull’s father, of Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, said: “I’m absolutely devastated by the appeal. It was an utterly disgraceful, spineless way in which he killed our Chris, and he ran away.

“The 10 years that he got is not enough and will never be enough in our eyes. It’s really sad to hear this, it’s utterly disgraceful and he left him at the roadside.

“Chris is sadly, sadly missed by all and this guy has got to face his punishment.

“His life will go on, Chris’s can never. His life has gone forever.

“We have to cherish the memories of Chris in our hearts. The memories will always be with us and help to get us through.”

Mr Turnbull, originally from Felling, Gateshead but living in Sunderland, was due to travel to Thailand with his girlfriend Katherine Harbinson, 24, where it is thought he was planning to propose.

The pair had been due to travel to the country on the day of his funeral.

He was a former pupil at St John The Baptist RC Primary School, Felling, and St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive School, Hebburn.

Mr Turnbull then completed a degree in Outdoor Studies at Lancaster’s St Martin’s College’s Ambleside campus in the Lake District.

Forster’s solicitor, Sunderland based Gerry Armstrong and Co, said they could not comment.