THE mother of murdered schoolgirl Rochelle Holness hopes to see her daughter remembered in a parkland memorial.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the 15-year-old's body was found, Jennifer Bennett says her life has become a "living hell".

The last time she saw Rochelle was on September 25 after she left her home in Nelgarde Road, Catford, to make a phone call to her boyfriend.

Four days later her daughter's remains were found dumped in four bags near rubbish chutes on the Milford Towers estate in Catford.

Now the former social services worker has admitted she is hurt her daughter has been ignored by the media, which gave so much coverage to Croydon model Sally-Ann Bowman, who was murdered in the same week as the Sedgehill School pupil.

The 38-year-old mother-of-three said: "My daughter is somebody too and deserved just as much recognition and publicity. We as a family felt completely shut off."

She added: "If I didn't have my boys, Michael and Richard, I don't know what I would do. They are keeping me strong and my friends around me."

But through her grief Ms Bennett is planning something extraordinary in her daughter's memory.

Her family and close friends have organised a public march for November 13.

They plan to walk through the streets of Lewisham and Greenwich campaigning for better protection for young people in the borough and to raise awareness of the lack of support for youngsters within the community.

Mrs Bennett added: "I fear for the coming generations. Kids have a right to be able to go to the shops without the fear of being lured away.

"We need to do something before the situation gets worse. We are living in hell at the moment."

Mrs Bennett also wants council help to build a memorial garden for Rochelle in Ladywell Park.

She added: "We want to put a chair in memory of Rochelle and create an area where people can come and plant flowers and think of her."

Family friend Fiona James, 40, added: "Rochelle was a wonderful being. I was absolutely devastated by her death.

"She was a bright and intelligent young woman who had a heart for young people."

Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock said: "As a community we must make sure Rochelle is remembered not for her tragic death but for the positive difference she made to her family and friends during her short life.

"If I can help achieve this in any way, I will."

The march will start from Tesco, Catford, at noon on November 13.

  • John Joseph McGrady, aged 47, of Milford Towers, Catford, has been charged with Rochelle's murder and is expected to appear at the Old Bailey in January.