My endless grief (From Penarth Times)

My endless grief

A DEVASTATED Dinas Powys mother has told of her ongoing heartbreak 12 months after her son was murdered in Cardiff.

Faith Huxter, 51, of Castle Drive, says she constantly thinks about her son, Alan Shapcott, who was stabbed to death aged 26 at the Huggard Centre on June 29, 2001.

Former Dinas Powys Infants, Murch Junior and St Cyres pupil Alan, who would have been 27 in March, was playing pool at the homeless centre when he was stabbed six times in the neck and body by resident Peter Gibson, 31.

Gibson admitted murder and was jailed for life by Recorder of Cardiff John Griffith Williams QC in December.

The court heard the attack was a "joint enterprise" between Gibson and another resident, Sebastian Curtis, 22, who was found guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. He was jailed for 30 months.

Mrs Huxter, who has three other children Martyn, 25, Sharon, 20, and Phillip, 15, was recovering from major surgery at Llandough Hospital when the police told her about Alan. She said: "It's been very traumatic. I don't think it's something I'll ever come to terms with. I came home from hospital and found myself opening get well cards and with deepest sympathy cards. I couldn't understand what was happening."

She added: "I still find it very difficult to believe he's gone. He's on my mind every morning, when I wake up, through the day and when I go to sleep.

"As a mother you're always there to protect your children if they're hurting, but not this time.

"The police said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, it could have been anybody. So why my son? Why Alan?"