‘Feeling of safety has been taken away’published at 15:46 GMT
15:46 GMT
Jonny Humphries
Reporting from Liverpool Crown Court
Mr Astbury reads the statement of Anna Bilonozhenko, 43, on behalf of herself and her daughter Sasha Bilonozhenko, 22.
They sit listening in the public gallery as the prosecutor speaks.
The family came to the UK from Ukraine in 2024 after escaping the war-torn country.
“The move was extremely difficult – we had to leave behind our home, family and everything familiar,” they said.
“At the beginning of 2025 my mum passed away and I thought that spending a day out together might lift our spirits and bring a bit of
light back into our lives.
“Since the incident, I’ve suffered
from constant physical pain and significant limited mobility in my leg following surgery.”
She said the physical injuries had caused long-term mobility issues as well as “extreme stress and anxiety”.
“We came to this country because of the war in our homeland, hoping to
finally feel safe,” she said.
“At first, we did. But now that feeling has
been taken away. Realising that is deeply painful – it feels like losing our safety all over again.”
She says of her daughter Sasha: “She had to think and act under extreme fear, trying to stay strong and make critical decisions whilst in complete
shock.
“Since then, she
carries enormous stress and emotional exhaustion.
“She feels she has to stay
strong for me, but it has taken a serious toll on her mental health.”