The mother of Ana Kriegel gave heartbreaking testimony today describing her murdered daughter as "wild, wonderful, electric" and the "light of our lives".
Geraldine Kriegel said the happiest day of their lives was August 10, 2006, when they learned that they would adopt Ana.
Delivering a Victim Impact Statement on behalf of herself, her husband Patric and their family at a sentencing hearing for the two boys convicted of Ana's murder, she said: "Our lives have been destroyed.
"We could not suspect the evil that lay in wait that night.
"Life without her is not even an existence but a misery we must endure for the rest of our lives."
"Every single night Ana came into our room and said in French 'Good night, sleep tight, have beautiful dreams. I love you'."
She told judge Paul McDermott: "I cannot tell you how badly it hurts."
She added that Ana had never got to meet her siblings, two sisters aged 10 and six.
Ana was due to meet them this year and had written to them saying "I'm afraid I'll never get to meet you".
Geraldine added: "She never met them. Those little girls, they cried and cried when they were told what happened.
"Ana was a beautiful child. There are no words.
"We lie awake at night, We pace the floor at night. We imagine the pain she suffered, the sadistic violence, the inhumanity.
"We are a broken family."
Read the full Victim Impact Statement here:
