Ray and Vi Donovan: Why we forgave the gang who kicked our son to death | ITV News

Описание: Ray and Vi Donovan forgave the gang of teenagers who kicked and stamped their son to death.

Letting go of the hate was like "putting down a glass of poison" that would otherwise have destroyed her, said Vi.

Christopher Donovan was on a night out in Ewell, Surrey, with his younger brother Philip nearly twenty years ago when they were attacked by a gang of teenagers.

"They took penalty shots to his face and body - and they stamped on his head.

In court they asked a witness could he describe it. He said I can't describe it I'll have to show you.

And he got out the witness box into the well of the court and brought his leg up so high and with the power of the stamp it rang round the whole courtroom.

That's the force of stamping on his head", said Ray.

The gang left Chris unconscious in the road where he was hit and dragged along by a car.

Three of the 14-strong gang were convicted of his murder. But the Donovans had to move home after being targeted by a graffiti campaign supporting one of Chris's killers.

Ray and Vi Donovan eventually came face to face with the trio who killed Christopher with the help of a restorative justice scheme.

"Restorative justice is about the victim getting answers to questions - sometimes it can lead to forgiveness. It's you getting answers - that's the main thing and the absolute truth", said Ray.

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