The mother and partner of a man murdered as a drug feud spiralled out of control have spoken of their grief as two men are locked up for at least 21 years.
Carl Eland suffered catastrophic head injuries when he was thrown from his bike when Brandon Ali and Joey Matthews took the opportunity to exact revenge on the 37-year-old.
The father-of-four died four days after the pair smashed into him as he cycled through Middlesbrough with his partner Kassi Weir sitting on the handlebars.
Today, she spoke of the devastating impact her partner’s callous murder had had on her since he was killed last August.
Read more: Drug feud murderers locked up for 21 years each for killing Carl Eland
Her victim impact statement was read out in court as Brandon Ali and Joey Matthews were sentenced to life for the murder and for attempting to cause her grievous bodily harm with intent.
She said: “What happened is a blur. I cannot process it. I was at hospital with his family and it was the worst day of my life.
“Since this happened, I can’t eat properly or sleep. I get flashbacks.
“I will never forget Carl. I want to make him proud by being the best person I can be. My life has completely changed since it happened. I will always love Carl.”
Ms Weir suffered only minor injuries when she was thrown from the handlebars of the bike as the Vauxhall Insignia smashed into the pair as they rode on Homerton Road in Pallister Park, on the evening of August 21, 2021.
Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said it was a horrific, premeditated and cowardly crime which resulted in the terrible loss of life of a still-young man, a son, partner and father with his life ahead of him.
He said Mr Eland and his family's future had been "ripped" from them by a "senseless bloody deed".
Read more: Carl Eland's world of drugs, a 'Wild West' shoot-out and a fatal hit-and-run
And Carl’s mother, Leona Eland said: “As a family we are devastated and as a mother I feel lost. My heart and soul are completely broken.
“My son was murdered and my best friend was taken away from me forever. I will never see my only beautiful son again.
“The only life I have now is that of my grandchildren and they are so important to me. I don’t know how they will cope without their Dad and the fact they will never be able to see or hear him ever again.
“Carl’s girlfriend Kassi can’t move forward in any way; she just feels so lost without him.
“When Carl passed away not only did he save Kassi’s life that night but he then went on to be an organ donor and saved three more. I’m so proud of my son in every way possible and we always looked out for each other.
“The sentence today brings me and my family some form of closure but no sentence will ever bring my son back.”
Ali and Matthews were in a Vauxhall Insignia, which they had bought just two day earlier, that was deliberately driven at the couple as a drugs feud boiled over.
Ali, of Dalwood Court in Hemlington, and Matthews, of Newcomen Green, both Middlesbrough, were found guilty by a jury last week of murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
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