Helyn Bennett’s mother to attend Turkey bomb blast trial
Jun 25 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal
A GRIEVING mother is steeling herself to look into the eyes of the man accused of killing her cherished daughter next week.
Helyn Bennett, 21, of Spennymoor, County Durham, was one of five victims blown up when a terrorist bomb exploded on a tourist bus in the seaside resort of Kusadasi, Turkey, on July 16, 2005.
On Tuesday, her mother, Sharon Holden, and her twin sister Toni Punshon, fly out to Turkey where they expect to see the suspected bomber stand trial.
It will be the first time they have visited the country since they were part of an extended family holiday which ended in tragedy.
Helyn’s fiance, Stephen Stables, 23, her brother Adam, 16, cousin Sam Punshon, 14, aunt Toni Punshon and Ms Punshon’s partner Michael Aspinall, from Sherburn, Durham, were all injured in the blast.
Sharon and her husband Tom Holden were spared because they decided to take a boat trip to Greece instead of joining the rest of the party.
Although Mrs Holden and her twin, aged 44, know it will be difficult as the memories of their last trip will always haunt them, they are determined to see justice served.
Mrs Holden, of South Street, Spennymoor, said: “I am chewed to bits about going back there, but I have to go. Toni feels the same way as me.
“Helyn and her brother and Toni’s children grew up together. We are a very close family. I’ve got to the stage now where I have to go. I cannot understand how anyone could cause this amount of devastation to one family, I have to see him.”
