THE BRAVE mother of a murdered son has met with a killer.

Caroline Shearer met with a murderer, out on day release, to gain a greater understanding as she campaigns, to stop families going through the horror her family have experienced, through her charity Only Cowards Carry.

Caroline’s son, Jay Whiston, was stabbed to death aged 17 in Colchester by Edward Redman.

Redman was sentenced to life and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years.

The murderer she met, who is not being named to save the family of his victim any further heartache, also stabbed a man to death and has been in jail for more than a decade.

He works with people to try and break cycles of violence having joined the Samaritans and found religion while in prison.

Mrs Shearer said: “I knew I was going to be meeting him the night before and did not sleep a lot."

He said: “It takes a lot for someone like her to look at someone like me let alone interact with me.

“It shows her character and strength. It is very humbling.”

The killer had previously been jailed for possession of a knife before coming out of prison.

He later took a knife and killed someone.

See the full story in today's Gazette newspaper.