THE mother of a North-East woman killed by a terrorist blast in Turkey came face-to-face with the suspected bomber yesterday.

Sharon Holden returned to the country for the first time since her 21-year-old daughter, Helyn Bennett, died during a family holiday four years ago.

After bracing herself to see the man accused of murdering her daughter, she was devastated to hear the trial would be postponed for three months.

Mrs Holden said: “Being back in Turkey is awful, its brought all the memories back.

“But I think it has helped to see him. It’s something I had to do.

“I was gutted when I came out of court because I’d hoped to see more progress, but now I feel its given me some peace to put a face to him and see him in court.”

Miss Bennett, a trainee chef from Spennymoor, in County Durham, was one of five people killed on July 16, 2005, when a bomb exploded on a tourist bus in the seaside resort of Kusadasi.

Miss Bennett’s fiance, Stephen Stables, her brother Adam, cousin Sam Punshon, aunt Toni Punshon and her partner Michael Aspinall, were all injured.

Mrs Holden and her husband, Tom, from South Street, Spennymoor, were spared because they took a boat trip to Greece.

It is alleged that the bomber detonated explosives hidden under the seat of the bus by calling a mobile phone strapped to the bag.

The 31-year-old accused man, known by the initials MSF, appeared in court in Izmir yesterday where the case was adjourned until October 9 at the defence’s request.

He was remanded in custody.

Mrs Holden and her twin sister Ms Punshon, from Sherburn, Durham, sat in the courtroom with other victims’ families, including that of Tara Whelan, 17, from Ireland.

Mrs Holden, 44, said: “We supported each other.

“He didn’t look at the families and when he was ushered out of court he was surrounded by police officers, but I saw his face. He looked young – like someone you’d pass in the street without noticing.

“I needed to put a face to the monster accused of killing my daughter and devastating so many lives.

“Speaking to the Turkish police and lawyers was good.

They are confident about their evidence.”

MSF was arrested in April 2006 on suspicion of murder and is accused of belonging to the PKK organisation and conspiracy to commit further terrorist acts on the Turkish mainland.

Turkish and British Embassy officials will take Mrs Holden to Kusadasi today to lay a floral tribute at the scene.

Mrs Holden said: “I know it will be difficult to see where it happened, but I need to.

“I don’t know if I will ever come back to Turkey again, it has been such a harrowing thing to be here.”