Girlfriend of London Bridge victim Jack Merritt, 25 ‘beside herself with grief’ at murder weeks after romantic holiday
THE girlfriend of one of the London Bridge terror attack victim's is distraught over his death, pals have revealed.
Veterinary science student Leanne O'Brien learned her boyfriend Jack Merritt's murder not long after they went on holiday together to Seville, Spain to celebrate his birthday.
Jack was a course counsellor for Learning Together, which was hosting the event at Fishmongers' Hall in central London when terrorist Usman Khan, 28, unleashed his horror attack while wearing a fake suicide jacket.
His heartbroken father yesterday said he was one of victims and remembered him as a "beautiful spirit" after he and a woman were killed on Friday.
One friend told the Jack that Leanna is "beside herself".
Grieving dad David Merritt paid tribute to his son as a "beautiful spirit" - and referenced his son's extensive work with inmates.
'CHAMPION'
Writing on Twitter, he said: "My son, Jack, who was killed in this attack, would not wish his death to be used as the pretext for more draconian sentences or for detaining people unnecessarily.
"R.I.P. Jack: you were a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog."
He said his son had been a "champion" for those who had ";dealt a losing hand by life, who ended up in the prison system".
Another pal said Jack always had a social justice bone in him.
They said: "He was always sticking up for the little guy."
Khan, from Staffordshire, was freed last December and police said he was “known to authorities” after he was convicted in 2012 for terror offences.
He was banned from entering London but had a one-day exemption to attend the ex-convict event organised, it emerged last night.
Khan, who was wearing a monitoring tag during the attack, was attending an event on Friday afternoon at Fishmonger’s Hall called ‘Learning Together’.
The killer “hoodwinked” authorities by travelling to the prisoner rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers’ Hall where he launched his horror rampage on Friday.
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The Sun on Sunday revealed Khan was given “special permission” to attend the Cambridge University-run event.
The Parole Board said in a statement yesterday they had “no involvement” in Khan’s release.
It added it he appeared “to have been released automatically on licence (as required by law), without ever being referred to the Board”.
