Libby Squire's mum pays tribute to 'special' daughter who was in 'best place' before her death
Pawel Relowicz is accused of murdering and raping University of Hull student Libby Squire
Libby Squire's mum has paid an emotional tribute to her daughter on the second day of her murder trial.
In a statement read out to Sheffield Crown Court, in front of the man accused of raping and murdering the University of Hull student Lisa Squire, described Libby as someone who "loved life" and paid tribute to the pair's "very special bond".
On Wednesday, prosecutor Richard Wright QC said after 'persuading or forcing' Libby into his car near Beverley Road around midnight on January 31, Pawel Relowicz drove her to the Oak Road playing fields.
The court heard one witness woke up to "loud, frantic" female screams coming from the remote playing fields soon after.
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In a dramatic turn in evidence, the prosecution in the trial claimed the Hull butcher had 'stalked and intercepted' Libby as she struggled alone in the street following a night drinking with friends where she was turned away from the Welly Club.
During the second day of the trial, her mum's statement was shared with the court, in which she explained her longing to study at the University of Hull - where she received an unconditional offer to attend - as well as her mental health struggles.
Mrs Squire said: “I love all of my children dearly but there is no denying we shared a special bond. We were that in sync with each other I would describe us as being as one.
“She was very close with all of her siblings but had a very special bond with her brother Joe.
“At school she made a good set of friends who she stayed in contact with until her death. She always worked hard and was always very organised with homework.
“In 2014, Libby did her GCSE’s and got five A* grades, 2 A’s and a C. She decided to go to college to complete her A-levels where she attended between 2014 and 2016.
“Due to her mental health she did not do well in her A-level exams and got two D grades and one U. She decided she wanted to go to university and decided she wanted to go to Hull as she liked the city and what the University had to offer.
Lisa says Libby had spoken about a possible career path into journalism.
She added: “I was reluctant about her going away to university but she was adamant. She took a gap year before and travelled, going to Paris.
"She said she always wanted to go back and return. During this year she worked hard on her mental health and was in a really good place when she went to University.”
Libby was 19 when she went to university and “loved life” there and “worked really hard” her mum told the court in a statement.
"She enjoyed nights out and drinking but was very much against drugs," she continued.
“I have regularly collected her from parties and had to carry her into the house. She had previously damaged and lost mobile telephones so she got into the habit of not taking it out with her if she knew she was going out drinking as she didn’t want to lose or damage it.
“For Libby to have a mobile it would be just to contact me or her friends. She was not obsessed with it like her friends and was not into social media. She only used these sites to contact friends and was a very private person.
"Libby liked things in order and took pride in everything, including her handwriting. She never took having anything for granted.
"She was always funny and had a wicked sense of humour. She was always very creative and chatty and had an ability to put people at ease, she made people feel included.
Libby struggled with her mental health through her teenage years, something which she began to overcome before she moved to Hull.
“As a child aged around 11 she suffered with glandular fever. It had an effect on her and she wasn’t herself after. During her teenage years she suffered with mental health issues.
"She was always considerate of other people’s feelings. When her friend was 13 her friend suffered with an eating disorder and Libby wanted to support her friend and she began to suffer with one.
“When she suffered with her mental health she became depressed and a symptom was self-harm, which she began when she was 14. It was during this time our bond became stronger. She was always honest with me regarding her self-harm. I helped her dress her wounds and made sure she had antiseptic wipes and plasters.
“During this period I always worried about her and feared I would find her dead in her bedroom.
“I never thought I would have her for the rest of our lives.With support she was able to move forward.
Lisa says Libby was referred to CAMHS when she was 15.
The teenager was also scared of water and the dark and enjoyed spending time with her friends, Lisa revealed.
“She loved going to museums and galleries and spending time with friends," Lisa said.
“She always had a fear of water from a young age and she wasn’t a good swimmer.
"When on family holidays as a child she would not go in a swimming pool or near the sea. It was only on one of our last family holidays that she stood in the swimming pool at the edge.
“I know she would never voluntarily put herself in water - especially moving water.
“She was always scared of the dark and would never take a shortcut home or walk down a street with little light.”
When she failed to hear from Libby on January 31, Lisa began to fear that "something would be seriously wrong".
“I took Libby back to Hull on Sunday, January 27, 2019. She was looking forward to being back and seeing her friends," her statement continued.
“I spoke to her every day by call or text but didn’t have contact with her on January 31 as I had been on a night shift.
"She had sent her a photo of herself that afternoon. I knew she was going out that evening to the Welly. I was working another night shift.
“I knew something wasn’t right and told her friend to call the taxi company, they had been to her favourite taxi companies and they had contacted the police.
“We made the decision not to panic and go straight to Hull as she could have gone to another friend’s house.
“I knew she had a lecture that day and would never miss a lecture so if she didn’t go to that something would be seriously wrong.
“We travelled to Hull and knew something serious had happened. It was not in her character and she was not answering her texts or calls.
“She was planning her future and was in the best place in her life she had ever been.”
The trial against Relowicz, taking place before Judge Lambert, is expected to last four weeks.
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