Family pay tribute to beloved daughter
L13-208 Family of Sam Medland
The family of a girl who was killed on Sunday say they are devastated to lose their “ray of sunshine”.
Samantha Medland, 24, died from stab wounds after an attack in Queen Square in Brighton, near where she had recently moved with her husband.
The former Ashcroft High School student was rushed to hospital but died a short while later, and a 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.
Heartbroken mum Amelia Greening, 42, said: “Sam was a ray of sunshine and meant so much to so many people. She was close to her family and had been back to visit us a few times since she moved. She was here in January to meet her new little sister.”
Sam, as she was known, had a half brother and sister, Theresa and Ali, and her mother gave birth to another half-sister just before Christmas.
Amelia said: “I feel like I’ve gained one daughter just to lose another. It’s not right. She was too young to go, and you don’t expect to be burying your daughter.”
Sam worked at Days Hotel in Luton before moving to Brighton a year ago with her husband after a “whirlwind romance”.
Her step-father John Cresswell, 57, said: “I brought Sam up from when she was young. She will be sorely missed by a lot of people, she was well known in Luton. The response we’ve had from people who knew her on Facebook has been incredible, it means a lot.”
Sister Theresa Cresswell, 21, said: “Sam was someone that loved partying, going out, drinking, having fun. She had so many friends and was always smiling.”
Family described her as “a very gothic girl”, and John said at her wedding she had everyone wearing red, purple and black.
Amelia said: “She liked moshing and she was always changing the colour of her hair. She had so many friends and it’s kept me going the past couple of days seeing them writing their messages on Facebook. She will be sorely missed.”
Sam’s funeral will take place in Luton and contributions to funeral costs can be made via the Facebook page.
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Weather for Luton
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 33 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
