Dying wish of murdered Becky Watts’ stepmum is to be buried with teen and see guilty son one last time
Nightmare of the last 16 months has taken its toll since her son Nathan Matthews took stepdaughter's life
SLUMPED in her wheelchair, Anjie Galsworthy grieves beside the gleaming new headstone at the grave of her murdered stepdaughter Becky Watts.
The 16-year-old was killed last year. By Anjie’s son.
Now it is Anjie who faces death. The 50-year-old suffers with multiple sclerosis and since the tragedy her condition has deteriorated.
The nightmare of the last 16 months has taken its toll since her son Nathan Matthews took Becky’s life in the bedroom of her Bristol home and callously sawed up her body.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Anjie revealed she is making her final preparations and has two more wishes left.
She wants to sit opposite Nathan in prison and confront him about why he killed Becky on that terrible day in February 2015, wrecking all their lives for ever.
And then she wants to be buried beside Becky, the girl she brought up as her own from six months old.
The imposing black marble headstone was only installed on Tuesday. It carries a photo of Becky, who became known as Bristol’s Angel, and below that there is an empty space.
I want him to know that he’s destroyed my life
Anjie says: “That’s for my name. I want to be buried with Becky the beautiful girl my son took away from us.
“We were inseparable from the time she was a baby.”
But before that day comes Anjie believes she must summon up all her courage to confront Nathan, 29, who is serving a 33-year jail term for the sexually motivated murder.
Nathan’s girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 22, is also behind bars — she was given 17 years for manslaughter.
Last month the Court of Appeal rejected an application by Matthews and Hoare to appeal their sentences and convictions.
With the legal process now at an end, Anjie wants to see Nathan one last time.
She is writing a letter to him to ask for a meeting.
Anjie, now virtually housebound, says: “I want to know why it happened. I just want to see that he feels guilty.
“I want to know that he understands what he’s done, not only to Becky, but to me as well.
“I want him to know that he’s destroyed my life and that soon I’ll be dead, and I’ll die broken-hearted.
“I’ll ask him why.
“I’ll tell Nathan I can never forgive him for what he’s done. I’m going to plead with him to let me visit him in jail.
“I’ll explain this will be the last time he ever sets eyes on his mother. The last time I see my son.
The last chance to look into his eyes.
“I hope, somewhere there, I can see the sweet boy I brought into the world. I’m still his mother but I can’t forgive him for what he’s done.
“I think I love him, but I’m really not sure now. He’s done what he’s done, but I’m still his mother.
“I haven’t got long left, but I want to see Nathan before I die.”
Becky went missing from home in St George, Bristol on February 19, 2015. The whole city united in trying to trace the teen.
But 12 days later her dismembered body was found packed in Asda carrier bags in a shed near the house Nathan and Shauna lived in.
Anjie was horrified to discover her own son had killed Becky.
She had never for one moment considered her son was responsible.
Ever since Nathan and his lover were jailed last November, Anjie and husband, Darren — Becky’s dad — had been saving up for a headstone that would be a lasting and fitting tribute to their beloved Becky.
The azure blue chippings on the grave at Avonview Cemetery are Becky’s favourite colour. The plot is in a part Anjie can easily get to in her wheelchair.
The couple also chose the glittery black stone engraved with words that sum up the girl they loved:
“Rebecca Marie Watts. Beautiful, Affectionate, Talented, Loyal Daughter and Friend taken from us 19th February 2015, Aged 16. Bex was loved by everyone, will be missed by all who knew her. Rest in peace my child.”
Anjie says: “Becky would have liked it. If she could have chosen it herself I think this is what she would have gone for.”
To the left of the headstone is the Madonna, holding a baby girl in the same way that her stepmum once held Becky.
She’s the only mum Becky has ever had
Anjie adds: “She felt safe in my arms, even when she was bigger she would spend hours cuddled around me.”
Darren, 52, is planning to take Anjie on what could be her last summer holiday. They hope that when they return home there will be a prison letter waiting on the mat from Nathan agreeing to a meeting with Anjie.
Anjie says: “My MS will just get worse. It doesn’t ever get any better. I have no idea of what time I have left.
“I haven’t dared to ask that question.”
But engineer Darren confirms: “Anjie won’t last long. She’s the only mum Becky has ever had.
“They were inseparable in life so it seems only right that they should be buried together.”