By Hayley Robinson

June 6, 2009. That was the day that changed the Bygrave family forever.

News that beloved father, son and brother Steven had been stabbed to death by his own cousin spread like wildfire throughout the family and rocked it to the core.

The Bygraves say that when Steven's life was taken, the previously tight-knit family was also damaged irreparably.

And despite Steven twice naming his attacker as he fought for his life, the family still had to endure a full two-week and one day trial as Robert Bygrave denied murder.

Steven's brother Richard, 33, says it was thanks to Steven that Robert was quickly arrested.

He said: "Had Steven not done that I think Robert would have got away with it.

"I feel anger towards him for taking Steven's life. I don't know how he could do that to his own cousin. All we got from Robert was cockiness and lies, there was no remorse for killing his own cousin.

"Out of all the siblings we were very close. For me its hard to believe he's not here."

Sister Leanne, 29, said: "If Robert had just admitted what he'd done we wouldn't have to have gone through all the trial but he carried this on by lying he knew what he and done and the jury saw through him anyway.

˜He killed Steven but he also killed the whole family. We were a close family, but that's gone now."

Richard added: "Both families are finding it hard to cope with what's gone on and it's difficult to be around each other at times."

Losing her son has taken its toll on mum Carole.

She said: "It's one of the worst things that could ever happen to a parent, losing a child. I've not coped since Steven's death. I can't sleep.

"The hardest thing is thinking about how he died, that he suffered and he was on his own. I feel I should have been with him. I only live around the corner, if I'd known what was going on sooner maybe I could have been there with him.

"We can never forgive Robert. He took my son's life unnecessarily.

"He's not our family any more, he's nothing to us. If I had my way he wouldn't even have the name Bygrave."

Dad Richard said: "He's disgraced us."

Sister Claire, 35, said: "You hear about people being murdered and stabbings on the TV all the time, never do you think it will happen to one of your own.

"We're happy he was found guilty but not happy with the sentence. Life should mean life."

Steven's two sons from a previous relationship, Zach, 15, and Ben 18, spoke movingly about life without their dad.

Ben, who turned 18 three weeks ago, said: "I'd just finished playing football at Murston Recreation Ground when I saw police cars and forensic vans rush pass. I thought to myself I wonder who that's for. Never did I think they were going to my dad.

"It's hard thinking about how he died and the things we'll never get to do, like going for my first pint at a pub with him when I turned 18.

"He said he'd come with me to buy my first car when I passed my driving test but we never done that. I passed on December 2 and went and bought my car by myself."

Zach said: "I'm finding it hard to cope with. Dad was making more of an effort to be in our lives before he died, sadly that was cut short.

"I miss him and it's hard to know we will never do things with him again."

A new law brought in at the beginning of March means judges can now sentence anyone who kills using a knife, carried onto the street to 25 years imprisonment.

Steven's brother Richard said: "Because Steven (pictured) was killed before this new law came in it meant Robert only got 19 years. Yet if he'd died after March 1 Robert would have got 25 years.

"Does he not deserve the same punishment for someone killed after March 1st? He was killed nine months before the law came in. I feel he should have got the 25 years.

"Robert was out on licence for stabbing someone in 2007, if they hadn't let him out early this would never have happened."

Sister Claire added: "If you carry a knife the chances are you're going to use it. Don't carry it in the first place. It ruins lives."