Britain's Darkest Taboos continues on CI this coming Sunday, with 'My Disabled Daughter Tortured And Murdered By Her Friends'. Ahead of the episode, we got to speak to the subject of the show's sister Nikki, to find out more about her sister Gemma, the people who murdered her and exactly what Gemma's family now campaign for in the wake of her death.

Can you tell us a little bit about your sister Gemma and what sort of person she was?

Gemma was a loving and kind, simple girl... She had a deep trust of everyone and a rosy outlook on life, mainly due to the fact that she had no concept of danger and reality. Her concept that she was 'normal' led to her wanting to lead an independent life. This belief was given to her by 'experts' that failed at every turn to give her a correct diagnosis and claimed she was more than capable of living by herself - a fact that we as a family strongly disagreed with.

Gemma then became friends with a woman called Chantelle Booth and they became very close - what did you make of their friendship?

I was over the moon that anyone wanted to spend time with Gemma. She'd never formed a friendship before so this was fabulous.

What sort of struggles did you see Gemma face when it came to making friends and connections?

She had no concept of danger, or the ability to properly analyse people. She believed everyone was good and her potential friend. Her conversation skills were limited and she was vulnerable in all aspects of life.

Were there times you'd suspect Chantelle of using Gemma's kind nature and personality for personal advantage?

There were often phone rows with Chantelle, demanding Gemma go and meet her. Gemma always relented and shuffled off. And of course there was the concern that maybe Chantelle was getting more than just companionship from Gemma. But Gem would only tell us what she wanted us to know.

In the new episode of Britain's Darkest Taboos we'll hear of how Gemma was murdered - what was going through your head when you discovered just who was responsible for her death?

I was gobsmacked! Devastated and sickened by the thought that her only friends in her whole life had taken hers away. Guilty because maybe I could have prevented it somehow.

Chantelle has been given life in prison but in this country that doesn't necessarily mean she'll spend the rest of her life behind bars - what do you make of that sentencing as justice for Gemma?

Chantelle was sentenced to life without parole for a minimum of 22 years - for a girl of 22 that is a very hefty sentence. When the sentence was read out I was actually shocked at how long it was... I'm not sure why, because anything less wouldn't have been enough. Her life is essentially over. She will be leaving prison as a 44-year-old woman with a murder conviction. She will have no access to her children and a very slim chance of ever having any more.

You and your family now campaign to raise awareness of hate crime against more vulnerable members of society, so what should people know about this?

Our campaign is to make people realise that it is absolutely despicable to commit a crime against someone based on their race, religion, sexuality and especially any disability. To single someone out purely based on what they are and not who is a disgrace. But what society needs to realise is that it is our kids committing these crimes. Where are they getting the idea that it's OK to do this? Where are they being taught morals? Everyone knows someone who is fat, black, or disabled in some way. Everybody knows someone that has something about them that others would pick on, BUT, if it were their mum, brother, friend etc., they wouldn't tolerate it. So where is all this hate coming from? Society needs to step up and take notice.

We also raise awareness within the disability community. It's a very sad fact that most people won't report a crime against them as they feel it is 'part of being special needs' so they just accept it. This makes me angry and incredibly sad, and is a sickening sign of what we as a society have become.

Britain's Darkest Taboos: My Disabled Daughter Tortured And Murdered By Her Friends is on CI on Sunday 6th March at 9pm.


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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