Murdered MP's daughter - 'public restored my faith'

The daughter of the murdered MP Sir David Amess said public support from "all sections of society" had restored her "faith in humanity".

Sir David, 69, the Conservative MP for Southend West, was stabbed to death while holding a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on 15 October 2021.

Ali Harbi Ali was convicted of his murder in 2022 and given a whole-life prison sentence.

Katie Amess said following her father's death, her family had received thousands of letters of support.

"One thing that sticks in my mind is an old man, I don't even know where he was from, he sent my mum a cheque for £20 so that we could buy some food," she said. "That touched us so much.

"My mum, of course, sent it back and said 'I'll donate this to one of David's charities for you'."

Earlier this week, Ms Amess, an actress who lives in California, said a full public inquest was needed into her father's death.

She said the family had a "lot of questions, and somebody needs to answer them".

In July, a coroner decided not to resume Sir David's inquest, stating there was "no evidential basis" the attack was preventable.

Reflecting on the moment she discovered her father had been murdered, Ms Amess said: "I have to block out that moment and that day because if I don't, I'm not sure I could carry on.

"I guess my world ended on that day. My life as I knew it was over, and it will never be the same again."

A month after Sir David's murder, a private memorial service was held at St Mary's Church in Prittlewell.

Hundreds of people later lined the streets of Southend to pay their respects as the hearse containing his casket passed by.

"I wish my dad was there to see it," Ms Amess added.

"The public were just so kind and it's weird to say but through this tragedy my faith in humanity was restored because [of] the love and the support we received.

"We knew that he was loved but I don't think we knew how much."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.