The family of murdered mum-of-two Michaela Hall have told the court the devastating impact her death has had on their lives.

This lunchtime Lee Kendall was found guilty of murdering his lover at her Mount Hawke home on May 31 last year, just weeks after he was released from prison, by stabbing her through the eye with a kitchen knife.

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Now the family of 49-year-old Michaela have spoken of their "horror" at what has followed her violent death.

They include her two school age sons, who both had statements read out in court on their behalf.

Her eldest son said he suffered frequent nightmares and sleep paralysis as a result of what happened, and would be seeking therapy in the future.

"I will never be able to give her a hug. When I do my GCSEs she won't be able to help me.

"I don't have any parents now and I'm scared of losing any more of my loved ones."

And her youngest son said: "Dear judge, I want to tell you some things about my mum. My mum was a good person and I love her very much. She doesn't deserve this.

"I will never get a phone call from her or a present. She will never pick me up from school.

"This week I had to collect by belongings from my old house, which was very sad to see."

Michaela Hall died in May 2021

Michaela Hall died in May 2021

Michaela's mother said the family should have been celebrating Michaela's birthday on October 20, 2021 and she had already bought a card early, which she would now never give her daughter.

"Instead we went with her children to her graveside," she said. "They took plants and balloons, and sang happy birthday."

Her mother said sometimes she dreams about her daughter dying, and that she and her husband arrive in time to save her – only to wake up and be hit with the reality again.

In comments directed to Kendall, she said: "I hope he remembers every day, for the rest of his life, the person he murdered.

"How can I live without her? I find it hard to accept my daughter is dead, so I will have to live with that for the rest of my life.

"Michaela was stabbed in her eye at home, where she should have been safe. How can anyone do something so horrific? How can anyone be so cruel?

"I have no understanding about this level of evil. He murdered our precious daughter and left her to die in her house all alone."

And Michaela's sister said the family would now "drift through the rest of our lives," due to the void that had been left by Michaela's murder.

Kendall is due to to be sentenced this afternoon.