THE family of murder victim Angela Heyes suffered a double tragedy when her brother was found dead just months after the brutal killing.

Cyril Heyes lived just a few doors away from Angela in a bedsit on Park Road, Bolton. He died aged 35 from a combination of illnesses including bronchial pneumonia.

He was buried alongside his sister in a family plot on Tonge Cemetery.

His death was several months after Angela's murder in January, and their younger sister, Pamela Heyes described the trauma her family suffered.

She said: "I was devastated. I felt sure the family was jinxed. Two have died, and they say these things happen in three's so I became terrified for the rest of us.

"Angela and Cyril became very close before her murder. After I bumped into Angela in November, and she told me where she was living, I couldn't believe it. I knew Cyril had moved in only down the road.

"The two of them got together and saw each other often - now both are gone.

"I am sure Angela's murder did not help Cyril. He had been told to cut down on his drink, but her death didn't help him to cope. "It took its toll on me also. Within the first few weeks after I found out I started having panic attacks and had to go to the doctor.It was even rubbing off on me at home. I would find myself getting nasty with the kids for no real reason.

"During the court case I started getting the attacks again."

Pamela says she is furious that she was robbed of the chance of seeing the man who killed her sister, Steven Penn.

Despite attending Manchester Crown Court almost every day of the case, she was unable to sit inside the court.

She said: "The defence told me that I was going to be called as one of their witnesses and that I had to sit outside.

"It bothered me, particularly when on the last day, I was told that they had decided not to call me at all.

"I had wanted to see Penn. I am sure he knew that and had decided he didn't want me in there. All his family were there, but mine were not even allowed in. "Now I know I have to put this past year behind me and start again. It has been a horrible 12 months."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.