Westminster victim Les Rhodes' family: We wanted Khalid Masood to suffer
The family of Les Rhodes, who was hit by Khalid Masood's car on Westminster Bridge, say the killer was "a sick man".
Wednesday 5 April 2017 09:21, UK
The family of a retired window cleaner killed in the Westminster terror attack has told Sky News they wish the attacker had lived - so that he could suffer.
In an exclusive interview, the close family of 75-year-old Les Rhodes told how they could never forgive Khalid Masood, who murdered four people and injured many others on 22 March.
They spoke ahead of a "Service of Hope" at Westminster Abbey, due to be attended by around 1,400 people including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Mr Rhodes, from Clapham in south London, was one of dozens of pedestrians targeted by Masood, who drove along Westminster Bridge at 70mph.
The pensioner died the following day when his life support machine was switched off.
Mr Rhodes' niece Amanda Rhodes, 52, and cousin Carol Mardon, 75, described him as a quiet and gentle man.
"I just feel numb," Ms Rhodes said. "I feel angry in some ways because I wasn't there when he died.
"I'm hurting, really hurting," she added, "through one individual that decided to get in a car and mow people down. Disgusting."
Regarding Masood, Ms Rhodes commented: "I think he should have suffered, the way that all the families now are suffering, through this one man deciding to do what he did. Sick, individual man.
"He's destroyed how many families? They've got children. Careless, horrible man."
Ms Rhodes continued: "Pity he got shot. Should have let him suffer. Maybe one of us should have got in a car and run him down."
Sharing some memories, Ms Rhodes said her uncle acted as a father when her own dad died: "I used to love waiting for Les to come up because to me Les looked so much like my dad, and it was like my dad walking along, and I got comfort from that.
"Les was lovely - come up with Christmas presents. He was just an angel."