Peter Davis' family tell of broken lives
The family of murdered businessman Peter Davis have spoken of their grief and turmoil, saying they do not believe they will be able to forgive the two brothers who shattered their lives.
In an emotional interview after Ambrose and Xavier Clarke were this week found guilty of murdering Mr Davis in May 2011, his grieving widow Jenni and her sons have told how their lives were shattered by his murder.
"They've destroyed our family but we're tough and we're resilient," Mrs Davis said. "We will be OK and we'll move on but they won't be able to and for that I'm grateful."
Mrs Davis was married to Peter for almost 34 years and they had four sons - Ryan, Brendan, Christopher and Kurt.
She said it was hard knowing there would always be an empty seat at the table, that he would miss important events in his children's lives and that her grandchildren - who were the apple of her husband's eye - would grow up not knowing "their poppy".
The tight family say the tragedy has brought them closer and support from not only one another and the sons' partners but also from close friends has been important in helping them deal with the heartache.
"It's been really important to have one another to lean on," Brendan Davis said.
"If one of us is down, there is always the others to pick us up."
Kurt, Brendan and Christopher paid tribute to their father, saying he was a loving and kind-hearted man who would have done anything for them and was happiest when surrounded by the people he loved.
Sitting in Kurt's home, the brothers joked and laughed as they recalled memories of fishing trips with their father, who loved crabbing, his advice and how they could go to him with any problem.
After an emotional and draining 2½ years, the family say they can focus on the future now that the court case, which lasted more than seven weeks, is over. "It's been a long journey and I don't think any of us have really properly grieved, so now we probably can do that," Mrs Davis said.
"I hope we can start enjoying our life again and he would hate for us not to. He'll always be here. I suppose moving on is a word - we all have to, we have to do that to survive, too." Mrs Davis said the Clarke brothers had not only destroyed her family's life but also that of their own families.
"They have wrecked their families' lives, their children and they've got to think about that for the next however many years," she said.
The Clarkes, who were accused of luring Mr Davis to his death in May 2011, denied any involvement in his death - something the Davises find remarkable.
The Davises, who are grateful to the police and prosecutors who worked on the case, say they doubt the Clarkes will ever show remorse. There was also strong evidence a third man was involved and Mrs Davis said she had not given up hope that he would be caught as well.
"That person is still out there and I hope one day police will find out who he is and I am quite positive they will," she said.
For the family, no punishment imposed on the Clarkes when they are sentenced on December 17 will make up for the loss and tragedy they have endured.
"Even though they've been found guilty, it doesn't bring back Dad," Christopher Davis said.
As for their feelings towards the men who killed their father?
"I feel nothing for those two," Kurt Davis said.
"They should spend the rest of their lives in jail."
