Newlove widow tells police: You could have saved my husband

Sep 16 2008

Garry Newlove murder trial at Chester Crown Court _320

The widow of Garry Newlove, murdered in Warrington, has told senior police officers that her husband might still be alive if police had responded immediately to their call.

“Everyone is entitled to have a police officer come out,” Helen Newlove told the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales Conference.

Her husband died three days after being kicked “like a football” by thugs outside his home in Padgate, Warrington, in August last year.

Three teenagers were jailed for life for 47-year-old Mr Newlove’s murder at Chester Crown Court in February.

Mrs Newlove, 46, said: “If they came at that first call, I’m not saying they might not have assaulted him but I do believe Garry may have been alive, to what degree I don’t know but at least it would have stopped.

“There was two gangs, it would have stopped what was criminal damage escalating to a murder.”

Mrs Newlove said her husband Garry had gone out on the night he was assaulted partly because of concern for a neighbour, a woman who was home alone with a baby.

She said her neighbour had phoned police that night while gang members stood outside her window, “put their hoods up and smiled”.

Mrs Newlove said that whereas motorway emergency services provided immediate assistance to women alone with a baby the police did not.

She also said that the public is told by police that they do not come out to reports of criminal damage.