THE family of schoolboy Bailey Gwynne, who was stabbed to death at Cults Academy in Aberdeen, have spoken of their pain on the one year anniversary of his death.
A statement from parents Kate and John, and his four younger brothers released last night said that no words could express their suffering and that their hearts would always be with their son and sibling.
It went on to discus the media interest in the case, and its impact, saying: "We have always understood why in the circumstances there would be press interest. However, what can feel lost in that process is that Bailey was a real child.
"A child, who means the world to his family and to his friends. A boy with dearly held dreams, with a gentle heart, comic timing and an astronomical appetite. Our beloved boy who we were blessed to have for those sixteen years and is still the cherished centre of his family.
“For his family and friends it is a harrowing task to share him with newspaper pages. It is from that that we want to reclaim him. There is so much more to Bailey than the event that took him from us. Bailey's loss is the source of our pain but that Bailey was ours and that we love and remember him is the source of our strength.
"It is through remembering all of the beautiful qualities that make him such a special boy to us that we will find a path forward."
The family added: “As a family we will always strive to be a credit to Bailey in the very same way that he is to us. We couldn’t have asked any more of him.
“Our true gent and our beautiful boy. We’re proud of you, Bailey boy.”
A 16-year-old boy found guilty of killing the schoolboy Bailey Gwynne was been sentenced to nine years in detention following a trial in April.
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was cleared of Bailey’s murder but found guilty of a lesser charge of culpable homicide after a five-day trial at the high court in Aberdeen .
Bailey, also 16, on 28 October 2015. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries.
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