We haven’t met yet, not properly. I saw you at the trial, and I heard your statement at the sentencing. But I needed to write this letter to you to explain everything. I am sorry for what you are going through, it must be heartbreaking to lose a child. But I’m not going to apologise for killing your son Mrs Miller, because he deserved to die.

 

I remember the first time I met Travis. He and Hayley had only been together for a few weeks, and I was so excited to meet the man that was sweeping my best friend off her feet. We went out for drinks and I was just as charmed by him as Hayley was. He was funny and sweet, and I was glad she had found someone that made her so happy. I saw how protective he was of her, getting upset when anyone else showed Hayley any attention. At first, I thought it was cute, but in hindsight, that was the first red flag.

 

I watched over the next year as they fell in love, moved in together and got engaged. While everything in her life was changing, I slowly watched Hayley change as well. She went from calling me every day, to calling once or twice a week. She stopped coming out with us girls, and sometimes weeks went by without me seeing her. One day I was in her area and decided to stop by, and when she opened the door I saw the black eye. Of course, she didn’t tell me that time that your son had hit her, she gave me a vague excuse like she had fallen over and hit her head. That was the moment when I started paying closer attention, and it all started spiralling out of control.

 

A few months later Hayley told me she was pregnant, and I was furious. I wanted her out of this abusive toxic relationship, but she was really hopeful that a baby would make everything better. She thought it would change Travis, that he would see her carrying his child and he wouldn’t hurt her anymore. He didn’t stop. Mia was born, and she was perfect, but Hayley was covered with bruises and cuts all over her body.

 

Hayley had always wanted to be a nurse, she wanted to spend her life helping others. One day she asked Travis if she could go to school at night, start working towards the career she had always wanted. But Travis wouldn’t let her. Travis wouldn’t let her do anything. He hardly let her leave the house and tried as hard as he could to fracture my friendship with her. Hayley was a shell of the person she used to be, he had already killed a part of her soul with his overbearing, controlling and abusive behaviour.

 

After Leo was born, Hayley came to me and asked for my help to leave. She wasn’t even leaving because he hit her, she was leaving because she had found out that Travis was cheating on her. She was absolutely devastated, she had given her whole life to him and he broke her heart. But it didn’t last very long and soon she went back to him, to keep the family together. She called me late at night crying that another one of his girlfriends had called, she didn’t understand what she had done to deserve this. I kept trying to convince her to leave, that she deserved better and that I would help her. But I didn’t even get a chance to do that.

 

I will never forget the call when I found out Hayley had been taken to the hospital. Travis had hit her so hard that she had fallen and cut her head. She had lost so much blood that by the time I got to the hospital, they had put her in an induced coma to try to stop the swelling in her brain. I sat by her bed, held her hand and cried.

 

Hayley was pronounced dead two hours later.  

 

The next day we were at Hayley’s mums house, praying and grieving. Then Travis walked through the front door. I couldn’t believe he would have the nerve to come near any of us. I watched as he kneeled down next to Hayley’s mum and prayed with her. And then I saw a tear fall from his eye, and my mind went clear. Travis wasn’t looking but he went stiff when he heard me cock my gun. He turned around, still kneeling on the ground and started begging for his life.

 

That’s when I shot your son.

 

I think he was dead before his head hit the ground. The rest of that day is a blur, of people crying, the police coming and being taken to the station. I admitted to everything, without remorse, which I still don’t have.

 

So that brings us here. I’m in prison for the next 25 years at least, and you are without a son. I am sorry that you are going through pain, but so am I. You lost a son, I lost a sister. That’s what she was to me Mrs Miller, my sister, and your son took her away from me. She did nothing but love and support him, even when she shouldn’t have. But your son was so insecure that he wouldn’t love or support her back, not in the way that she deserved.

 

I hope your pain eases. I hope your days get better. I hope you remember your son with fond memories of better days. But I also hope you think of Hayley, every time you look at Mia and Leo. The woman who carried them, cared for them, loved them and protected them. She took all of the abuse so he would have nothing left for the children. She paid for that sacrifice with her life. So, I sacrifice my life for her. And if I could turn back time, to that moment in Hayley’s mums living room, I’d pull that trigger again.

 

I hope now you understand why I did what I did, and why I have no remorse. I’m not sure this letter will give you any relief from the pain you are feeling, but I hope it gave you insight. Hayley loved your son Mrs Miller, but love is blind.

 

Sincerely,

Chloe Turner.