Tributes have been paid to a 'beautiful' mother who was murdered by her friend inside her Midlands home. Mandy Riley was fatally stabbed by Thomas Turner after he lost his temper when she refused to give him money, a court heard.
The Murder
Mandy Riley, 44, had been drinking and smoking with her friend Thomas Turner at her home in Harriet Tubman House, Normanton, Derbyshire, on June 4 last year. Turner asked the mother for money, but when she refused, he repeatedly stabbed her. He was convicted of murder by a jury at Loughborough Crown Court in April and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, April 28.
Family Tributes
Ms Riley's family have paid heartfelt tributes, describing her as a 'lovely and kind woman who will be missed by so many'. Her daughter Tinisha said: 'I am glad my mum has now got the justice she truly deserves. She was a lovely and kind woman who did not deserve what happened to her. She was beautiful inside and out with a gentle soul and a warm smile.'
Tinisha added: 'Mum mostly kept to herself and never went looking for trouble. Drugs did not define who she was – they were a coping mechanism for the pain she had experienced. She always tried to keep that side of her life away from others. She was her own person, with her own thoughts and dreams and she was turning her life around into the life she wanted.'
'Mum was a family person at heart. Even when she spent a lot of time on her own, she still loved and cared about her family deeply. No matter how badly people treated her, she never treated them the same and always tried to be nice and respectful. She was a strong woman who had been through a lot of hell in her life but just kept going the best she could. I want people to remember her for her kindness, strength and love – not for her struggles. Her life mattered and she will never be forgotten by those who loved her.'
In a tribute released by Derbyshire Constabulary, Ms Riley's sister Wendy added: 'Losing Mandy has deeply affected us all, especially because she was taken in such a tragic way. None of us will ever come to terms with this, we just need closure. She will always be so missed by her daughters, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, son in law, lots of close friends and people who knew her. She was one of a kind with a big heart and lots of love to give.'
'Mandy might not be with us anymore in person but she will be in our hearts forever. I am pleased that we have now got justice for her. I'd like to thank our family liaison officer Daniel for being so understanding and keeping us informed, as well as all the people such as the police and barristers, who have helped us all the way through this case until we could get justice.'
