The family of Suffolk murder victims Jillu and Louise Nash have paid a moving tribute to them outside court, describing Jillu as 'beautiful inside and out'.
In a statement, Manna Aujla, wife of Jillu's second cousin, described Jillu as 'a kind soul, with all the love in the world for anyone and everyone,' moments after 47-year-old Great Waldingfield man Peter Nash was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the double murder.
READ MORE: Great Waldingfield murderer Peter Nash jailed for life
She said Jillu had an 'infectious smile that could light up the room' and spoke of how her family had come to realise that she had 'touched so many hearts around her and built her own support network in Sudbury'.
She added: "We only hope she knew just how loved they were. She would give the clothes off her back to help someone without thinking twice."
READ MORE: Peter Nash victim's mum calls him monster at sentencing
Describing Louise as 'our cheeky monkey' she said she was a 'sweet and innocent little child who wrapped everyone around her little finger'.
She said autistic Louise was starting to flourish in school and the family was saddened that they would not get to experience her growing further.
"It is now eight months since we lost them both and that overwhelming pain continues. We miss them all the time and feel guilt for not knowing what was behind that smile," Manna said.
Of the murderer, she said Jillu and Louise had trusted him to keep them safe and the family could not believe how he thought his own vulnerable child could be better off dead.
READ MORE: Sudbury news
She added they could not understand why Nash would not let them go, instead of killing them, especially as Jillu was a 'petite woman' and Louise a 'vulnerable child'.
She was joined outside Ipswich Crown Court by other family members who clutched framed photos of Jillu and Louise.
Choking back tears, Manna said she hoped Jillu and Louise were 'up there in heaven enjoying walks on the beach like they used to do'.
Earlier, Jillu's mother Dhurti Shah had described Nash as a 'monster' while giving a personal impact statement to the court.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
She said: "I replay how Jillu spent her last few minutes, what she must have been thinking- the man whom she trusted for 12 years has turned into a monster resulting in her facing the worst humanity.
"How can he value human life so cheaply and who gave him the right to punish our darling daughter?
The court heard impact statements from other relatives and Mark Leamey, who had been in a relationship with Jillu.
He said they had discussed moving in together and the houses they wanted to live in, but those dreams had been 'shattered' by Nash.
He said: "Jillu and Louise will never be here to hear what people say about them and the hearts they touched, but I suppose you never know until it is too late.
"All my dreams are gone, plans shattered and this world is a much worse place without Jillu and Louise."
During Nash’s three week trial, the court heard that the body of his wife was found under a quilt on the living room floor.
She had been asphyxiated and appeared to have had a T-shirt stuffed in her mouth while Louise died from a stab wound to her abdomen.
The court has heard that Mrs Nash had been having an affair for eight months with a man she worked with at Homebase in Sudbury and had been preparing to leave Nash and set up home with her lover.
Police and other emergency services attending the scene were confronted by the sight of the dead bodies and were also initially deterred by the smell of gas, which had been used by Nash in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Louise.
Speaking outside court, DI Craig Powell, of Suffolk Police, said police officers had received 'support' from the force to help them cope with what they had seen.
"Since the very beginning of this investigation, it has had a widespread impact, not only on my officers, but also the fire officers who have been deeply affected and the wider community and the outpouring of grief widely and the love this reflects for them," he said.
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