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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaliyah Rugg

'Monster killed my mum then threw her remains around Wirral - he's never told us where'

The grieving family of a much-loved mum brutally murdered by someone she "trusted" today called for urgent change.

Stephen Wynne, then aged 26, savagely killed Chantel Taylor with a meat cleaver near his home in Birkenhead, in March 2004. Wynne was only caught when he tried to torch a mosque in Birkenhead in revenge for the July 7, 2005, London bombings.

Ms Taylor's remains have never been found, and her heartbroken family have today spoken out about the heartbreak and grief that has been caused to them as they campaign for a law in her name to introduce longer sentences in similar cases. Speaking to the ECHO, Ms Taylor's daughter Alisha, 28, said: "Growing up without a mum has been painful.

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"With it happening when I was so young I hardly have any memories, the only memories I have are from stories that family members have told me about. Having a funeral without a body didn’t really make sense to me until I was old enough to understand, and when I did understand this broke my heart, knowing that he just threw parts of my mum around the Wirral, what normal person can do this to somebody?

"This is why Chantel's Law needs to be heard, so other families don’t have to go through this. My mum was loved by everyone, she was caring and a good mum."

Wynne later admitted to murdering the 27-year-old and was jailed for life at Liverpool Crown Court in January 2006. The ECHO previously reported that his minimum term of 21 years was later reduced and the former soldier won a High Court challenge over his transfer to open prison conditions.

Chantel Taylor - the 27-year-old mum-of-three from Birkenhead was murdered by Stephen Wynne in 2004 (handout Liverpool Echo)

The grieving family has launched a petition in the hopes of introducing Chantel's Law. In just 24 hours, more than 1,000 signatures have already been pledged. It is hoped the new law would introduce new mandatory 40 year sentences for murder if a victim's remains aren't found, with no parole or possibility of time in an open prison.

Daughter Whitney, 29, added: "When growing up it was extremely difficult to grow up without my mum. It was something no child should have to go through. Never mind losing my mum, but it was all completely in the public eye due to the heinousness and brutality of the crimes committed.

"I will always remember the day my nan and grandad sat me and my younger sister Alisha down and explained that mum was never going to come home. She had gone to a better place than here. I sat there for ages staring at my nan as her lips kept moving.

"It didn't sink in until further down the line. Being the eldest child I always felt like I had a big responsibility to always make sure my sister and brother were managing with the loss of our mum. I feel like Wynne should continue to pay for his barbaric crimes."

Chantel Taylor with children Joseph, Whitney and Alisha (Family handout)

Ms Taylor vanished on March 13, 2004 after she left the home she shared with her boyfriend in Newling Street, Birkenhead. Liverpool Crown Court previously heard that Wynne, who was thrown out of the Army for using cannabis, had been drinking and taking cocaine on the night of the killing.

Daughter Whitney added: "He was someone who my mum knew, trusted and went to school with, he was no stranger. He calculated his crimes and how to try and get away with murder, methodically hiding her body around the Wirral. Being moved to an open prison is no justice for the crimes committed also his sentencing should have never been reduced.

"Being moved to open prison allows Wynne to continue to wrangle for parole. He is a danger to every mother, daughter, sister and auntie. This wasn’t a crime committed by someone who was intoxicated with drugs this was a crime committed by a calculating monster. Would I ever forgive him? Never.

"He continues to have control as he has never fully disclosed we’re he put our Mum. He deprived my mum of living her life and being a mother, a daughter, a sister, an auntie and a grandmother. He should spend the rest of his days behind bars. Not only to pay for his heinous crimes but for the safety of the public.

"Would you trust him back walking the same streets as your loved ones? Or would you feel safer knowing he is locked up behind bars?"

The petition can be found by clicking here.

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