by Danny Boyle

dboyle@thekmgroup.co.uk

David Reid was left devastated when his mum was shot dead by a spurned lover when he was aged just nine.

Now 43, the former security guard is using his traumatic experience to help the families of murder and manslaughter victims.

Mr Reid, of Longfellow Road, Gillingham, has trained as a counsellor for distressed relatives and is working to set up a support group for Kent.

His mum was murdered outside his grandmother's house in Nottingham in 1976 aged 28 by former partner Malcolm Mackenzie.

Having kicked him out of the home she shared with David when she ended their relationship, he went on a jealous rampage.

Mackenzie admitted the murder to police, but was never brought to justice because he was found hanged in his cell at Lincoln Prison while on remand.

He is said to have told officers: "If I can't have her, no-one can."

Mr Reid said: "I was only a lad so my mum's murder affected me deeply. It's something I'm never going to forget about, but now after all these years I can talk about it openly.

"I know through personal experience that talking it through with someone who's been in the same situation really helps.

"I hope that I will now be able to do the same for others."

An only child, he was brought up by his grandmother before moving to the south east aged 21. He has lived in Medway for the last four years.

Mr Reid is a trained counsellor for SAMM - Support After Murder and Manslaughter - and supervises weekend retreats for victims' relatives.

Now a concierge at a London bank, he wants to set up a local branch of the group and is launching a fund-raising campaign.

Mr Reid also supports Liverpool-based victims charity Families Fighting for Justice, which calls for life-long sentences for murder and tougher punishments for manslaughter.

• The confidential SAMM helpline is 0845 872 3440.