“Can I Give You a Hug?”: Kate Garraway Fights Back Tears During Emotional Interview with Parents of Murdered Teen
Kate Garraway struggled to hold back tears during a deeply emotional interview on Good Morning Britain as she spoke with the grieving parents of murdered 19-year-old Leah Croucher. The usually composed ITV anchor, who has faced her own personal grief following the death of her husband Derek Draper, was visibly moved during Friday’s episode.
The heart-wrenching interview began with Kate, 57, and co-host Adil Ray, 50, speaking with Leah’s parents, John and Claire Croucher. The couple has endured unimaginable pain, not only from the loss of their daughter but also from the tragic suicide of their son, Haydon, who ended his life after being tormented by Leah’s disappearance.
Leah Croucher vanished on February 15, 2019, after telling her family she was heading to work. Her remains were only discovered years later, leading to an inquest that confirmed she had been murdered by convicted sex offender Neil Maxwell. Maxwell himself was found dead in a bike shed in 2019, long before he could be brought to justice for Leah’s murder, told The Sun.
The interview delved into the Crouchers’ double grief and their frustration with the police and probation services. They revealed that police blunders had significantly delayed the investigation, leaving them in limbo for years. Claire expressed their deep frustration with the system, saying, “We put grief on hold for a little while because we had so much to do in the meantime. We are still grieving every day. We still miss her. Getting to the inquest process took a year and a half, and it felt like an extremely long time.”
As the conversation shifted to their son Haydon’s tragic suicide, Kate’s emotions became more apparent. Reflecting on her own loss, she said, “It’s hard to fathom how you both are managing this grief. Is there a way you remember Leah or you think about Haydon that helps you?” The conversation grew more poignant as Claire began to wipe away tears, prompting Kate to pull out tissues, saying, “Oh goodness me.”
In a touching moment, as the interview came to a close, Kate asked the Crouchers, “Can I give you a hug? It won’t help you at all…” to which Adil interjected, “It will.” Kate then added, “But everybody at home will be wanting us to do this, so let me give you a hug. Oh goodness me, you’re amazing, well done, John.”
The case of Leah Croucher has highlighted significant failings within the justice system. Neil Maxwell, Leah’s murderer, had been assessed as a medium risk after being convicted of sexual assault in 2018. However, it has since been determined that he should have been classified as high-risk.
Senior Coroner Tom Osborne has acknowledged these failures, stating that they may have played a part in Leah’s death and confirming that he would be issuing a report to prevent future deaths. In a statement following the inquest, Leah’s father, John Croucher, expressed his fears that unless the system is reformed, “another family will have to face the same awful consequences we will never recover from.”