Gabriel Ferez's Mother's Victim Impact Statement
How to carry on, to live and survive after you have lost your murdered child in such inhuman
conditions. He died suffering in such a way; I could never forget what was done to him.
This barbaric act is indescribable and inexcusable. No human being deserves such a death. To
die for so little gain does not make any sense to anybody.
My son Gabriel wanted to live. He loved life and everything it had to offer. Even from a very
young age he was keen to embrace his surroundings and very open to the world and its culture.
Gabriel was a sociable boy who had been recognized by his teachers. He was my pride and joy.
He was kind and sensitive, worrying and concerned for the whole family. He was an everyday
happiness.
Before attending college, Gabriel knew what his future profession would be. He wanted to
become a biochemist. It was easy for him to study and succeed in this field, because he loved it
so much. His teachers loved him for his natural talent and ability. All he wanted to do was
become a biochemist. It was his life.
He volunteered his spare time to look after children during the holiday period, similar to a
summer camp. He was also the treasurer of his association at engineering college. He always
promoted that you could have fun without taking drugs or drinking alcohol.
Although he was only 23 years old, he was very responsible as well as ambitious, without being
pretentious. Gabriel had his own problems but he was always there for his friends.
He had a very generous nature and would always help people if he could.
Gabriel was aware that we, his parents, struggled to finance his studies and contributed when he
could, by working during the holidays, washing up in a hospital and giving private tuition.
My relationship with my son was marvellous and we spoke to each other regularly. He would
talk about his studies, his marks as well as his disappointments and his love of life. We would
talk about everything and there was nothing taboo. I was, I am and always will be very proud of
my son who was a talented and exceptional human being with a pure and gentle soul.
He had respect for everybody in society irrespective of who they were. Whenever he was away
his younger brother and sister and I would miss him terribly and we
could not wait for him to come home in the holidays. His brother and sister adored him and
would hang on his every word.
I cannot emphasise enough how much he loved life. Whilst studying, he had travelled around the
world and was proud to be in the capital of a European country.
He was thrilled to have been admitted to the prestigious Imperial College and to make his
presentation in English at the end of his studies. He worked long hours to complete his studies
and report his findings. His professors were very proud of him and his work.
He wanted to become a researcher with the aim of bettering the life of future generations, by
advanced molecular studies with a view to eradicate diseases.
Today he has been savagely killed. This very intelligent human being has been killed to satisfy a
very destructive human need. For me, only the Devil is capable of doing this.
My life stopped on June 29, 2008. I feel battered and bruised as a mother, forever scarred. I can
no longer live an ordinary life.
Nothing can make me forget the gratuitous torture inflicted upon my loving son. My daughter
and younger son's lives have been shattered for ever. Our beloved has been snatched from us for
the rest of our lives. I can no longer make sense of my life.
Gabriel, when I go into your bedroom and see your clothes, look at your study papers and all the
things that you grew up with, I cry out to you from the bottom of my heart: 'You should still be
here, but you are not.'
I wait for your return every day. I cannot believe that I will never see you again. My heart suffers
from the deepest wound from which it will never recover.