Thursday 15 September 2022 09:26 AM Mother describes horror of seeing her 'lifeless child's body broken' as her ... trends now

The mother of a 14-year-old girl who was mowed down in a hit-and-run has confronted her killer driver at court, telling him: 'I will never forgive you' as he was sentenced to almost seven years in prison. 

Brandon Turton, 21, instantly killed Courtney Ellis when he crashed into the teen while racing his Renault Megane around St Helens and Haydock shortly after 9.45pm on September 19, 2020 - before the youngster's mother discovered her 'lifeless' body while passing the crash scene as she drove home from work. 

Ben Jones, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court how Turton - of Newton-le-Willows - had been 'showing off or driving in anger', having made unsuccessful attempts to woo a female passenger.

Courtney, an aspiring midwife, had been hanging out with friends and her now 18-year-old sister when she ran across the road before being fatally hit by Turton's vehicle at a speed of up to 93mph, sending her 'flying through the air'. 

Turton, who had admitted causing death by dangerous driving, cried as he was jailed for six years and nine months on Wednesday afternoon. 

At sentencing, Courtney's mother Angela Burke described the devastating moment she realised that her daughter had been involved in the fatal collision.

Ms Burke told Turton: 'The night that you killed my 14-year-old daughter was the most horrific experience I have ever had to go through. It was truly a parent's worst nightmare.

'Having to see your lifeless child's body broken is indescribable. I was on my way home from work when I approached the scene of the incident.

'It was clear that something serious had happened, with police everywhere. I recall feeling sad for the people involved. Little did I know my own child was lying in the road. I was not there when she needed me most.' 

Ms Burke said that after passing the scene, she received a call to say that Courtney had been run over, adding that it was at that point she realised she had just driven past the crash site. 

The grief-stricken mother-of-four said she was 'mortified' when she went to the hospital but that she 'still had hope' - before it was 'shattered' when doctors said she had died. 

Ms Burke said she 'collapsed with shock' when she learned of the teenager's death, adding: 'I was unable to take in the news I had just been told. I thought I was in a living nightmare and I pleaded with the doctors to tell me it wasn't true.

'To this day, I still refuse to accept it. The pain in my heart and stomach is unbearable, but I have to pull myself together in order to care for my other three children - if it wasn't for them, I truly believe I would not be here now.'

Courtney's older sister Morgan, now 18, witnessed the horror crash first-hand and has been left 'traumatised' by the incident. 

She cried out 'Courtney please don't die, please don't leave me' in the aftermath.

Ms Burke added: 'It must have been truly horrific for her to witness Courtney lying lifeless in the road. They were inseparable, and for Morgan to wake up each day and not have Courtney around is heart-breaking.

'We as a family are all lost. Courtney was so caring and sensitive.

'She loved cuddles. Now I will never be able to see my daughter get married or have children of her own.'

Courtney also left behind a brother and sister, who are now aged only four and two. 

Ms Burke said: 'My younger children say goodnight to pictures of Courtney on my wall before they go to bed. They say 'love you' and blow kisses to her. I am devastated that they will never get to know their big sister.

'I will never be the same mum.

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