The mother of a schoolgirl killed in a hit-and-run collision 10 years ago told today how she constantly re-lives the fatal accident as she appealed for new information about her daughter’s death.
Gemma Rolfe, 12, was killed when the car she was travelling in with her stepfather was hit by a stolen van in Slade Green, south-east London, on May 19, 2003.
The Erith School pupil, who was on her way to Girl Guides at the time, had to be cut from the wreckage but died at the scene. The driver of the van fled the accident and no one has been charged in connection with Gemma’s death.
Nearly a decade on, a campaign has been launched on Twitter for more information which might identify the driver.
Kelly Dunkley, 20, who has a 14-month-old daughter with Gemma’s brother Kye, started the campaign #JusticeForGemma and has had re-tweets from actresses Patsy Palmer and Daniella Westbrook.
She said: “It’s a stupidly long time to wait. People know who did it and they haven’t come forward. It would have been Gemma’s 21st birthday last year and I’m 21 on February 1 so Kye is always reminded of her.”
Gemma’s mother Janet Robey, 46, said she hoped new information about the tragedy could be uncovered after previously running into a “wall of silence”.
The accounts assistant said: “The ideal scenario would be for someone to come forward who knows something. It has been 10 years, there are people out there who might have kids of their own now and might think ‘why didn’t I come forward before?’
“We have just tried everything. Every year I go down to Slade Green and put Gemma’s name up in flowers. The day I stop doing that is the day I get justice for her. I re-live what happened every single day. She is in my mind 24/7. The instant pain when we lost her felt like someone had ripped my guts out. The raw pain is not there any more but I still re-live the accident.”
Family and friends will mark the anniversary this year with a gathering at the spot where the 12-year-old was killed. The accident took place in Slade Green Road, near the junction with Canada Road, Slade Green, at about 7.15pm.
Anyone with any information should contact Bexley Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. More details about the campaign are available at hazefmuk.com/justice
