GRIEVING mother Joyce Brogden has told how she knew within hours who had shot her son.

Paul Rothwell's mother was born and bred in the Bank Top area and has known all the key players in the murder most of her life.

Joyce, who has since moved out of the troubled area, says she was told who her son's killer was the day after Paul was blasted with a shotgun in the kitchen of his Whitehead Street home. She said: "I know Paul was no angel and he did some things that were wrong but nobody deserves to be killed like that.

"We were very close and we always had a strong relationship. He used to come and see me and talk about his problems.

"He blamed the drugs for what happened to him and he was desperate to get off the heroin. Paul tried twice on his own to come off the heroin and he had finally decided to get help.

"He used to come and see me and talk about all the things that had happened to him and he hated what had happened to him."

She added: "People just see the crime and problems that come along with drug addiction.

"But drug addicts are still human beings and just because they are addicted to heroin it doesn't mean they are not the same as the rest of us.

"Paul used to hate himself and what he had become. Despite the things he was forced to do to get drugs he was still a good person. "He was always generous to his friends and would do anything to help the people he knew."

Joyce said: "I still don't know why Paul was killed by Kenny. They had known each other for years and I really cannot understand why he would want to do something like this.

"I was told the day after Paul was murdered who had pulled the trigger and I just couldn't believe it.

"Everyone who was in the house knew who had killed Paul but I just cannot understand why Kenny would want to do something like that.

"Kenny used to come round to our house with the rest of the lads and he was just one of the gang."

She added: "Paul had been beaten up really badly in Witton Park about a year before he was killed. Whoever did it almost killed him. They smashed his face in with a brick and stabbed him in the leg.

"His brother was warned by the same people and Paul had done his best to stay out of trouble ever since then. He had been keeping a low profile and was trying to stay out of trouble. Paul's girlfriend Kelly loved him him but she just couldn't live with the drugs any more. She decided to move away to get away from the whole drugs scene.

"Paul loved Kelly and their daughter Keara and if anything would have made him give up the drugs it would have been them.

"I never thought Paul would end up being killed liked that. He always said he could be killed by the drugs and I accepted that. "In a way what happened has been a lot harder to accept. I wanted to see Paul's body after he was killed so I could spend some time with him and say my goodbyes.

"But when the time came I was told Paul's body was too badly decomposed for me to see him. I was devastated and angry.

"I had to go round to Paul's house. It was my way of saying goodbye to him. I went into the kitchen where he died and it was horrible. There was blood everywhere."

Mrs Brogden has also been in close contact with Leah Rodwell, a key prosecution witness. She was a drug addict and prostitute who was living at Whitehead Street.

Joyce said: "Paul and Leah had been friends for years and were living together but there was nothing sexual between them.

"Leah was standing at Paul's side in the kitchen when he was shot by Kenny. She is sure if there had been another shell in the gun she would have been dead now.

"She was very frightened but was still determined to give evidence to make sure the person who killed Paul was brought to justice."

Leah has been in protective custody since the killing and been forced to move houses three or four times.

Joyce said: "I speak to Leah regularly and she is doing well for herself. She has come off the heroin and is trying hard to improve her life.

"I don't know why so many people in Bank Top got caught up in the drugs scene. It is really tragic."

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