Jennifer Mills-Westley.

The daughters of a former Hellesdon woman who was stabbed and beheaded in Tenerife almost two years ago have told how they will “come face to face” with the man who is accused of her murder at his trial next week.

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Jennifer Mills-Westley, 60, a former Norfolk County Council road safety officer, was killed in the resort of Los Cristianos, on the island of Tenerife, in May 2011.

Deyan Deyanov, a Bulgarian man with a history of mental health problems, was arrested on suspicion of the murder of the mother-of-two and grandmother-of-five, who had lived in Saracen Road, Hellesdon, before moving abroad.

Deyanov, who appeared in court days after her death and was remanded in the psychiatric unit of a prison in Tenerife, is to go on trial in Tenerife on Monday.

A statement released by the charity Missing Abroad on behalf of Mrs Mills-Westley’s two daughters, Sarah and Sam, described her heartbroken family’s torment as they prepare to go face to face with him in court.

It said: “On Friday 13th May 2011 our lives changed irrevocably when we heard the shocking news that our much loved mother had been brutally murdered in Tenerife.

“Now, nearly two years later we will come face to face with the man who took her life that day and relive the heart breaking details of the events leading up to her untimely death.

“Going back to Tenerife not only is a daunting prospect but it will reopen our wounds.

“We have to hope that justice will prevail so we can lay our Mother to rest, and remember her in happier times rather than the memories we currently have - memories which are shrouded by the brutality of her death.

“We would ask that we are left in peace to face the trial as a family. We will be making a further statement after the trial has ended and request privacy until that time.”

Earlier this month a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the trial was to take place in Tenerife on February 18.

The spokesman added: “We continue to provide consular assistance to the family.”

The trial is set to take place at the Audiencia Provincial in Avenida Tres de Mayo, Santa Cruz, amid high security with heavy police presence expected during the trial.

Earlier this month Broadland MP Keith Simpson, who was enlisted by Mrs Mills-Westley’s daughter, Sarah Mears, who lives in Newton St Faith, to try to get answers in the case, said he welcomed the court date.

He said: “In many countries they don’t have a legal system similar to ours and even in this country there’s often a time-lag but with some countries it’s a very long time and it often causes distress.

“It’s the not knowing. They’ve been in suspended animation – it must be dreadful.”

Of the many people to pay tribute to Mrs Mills-Westley at the time of her shocking death was Iain Temperton, a team manager for the casualty reduction team at Norfolk County Council.

Mr Temperton worked with Mrs Mills-Westley when they were both road safety officers after she joined his team in the mid 1990s, covering the South Norfolk area.

Speaking at the time, he spoke of his “shock” at her death and described her as a “committed” colleague.

He said: “She was incredibly enthusiastic about the job. She was very precise and always immaculately turned out and smartly dressed and well presented.

“She was calm, committed and enthusiastic. She thrived in everything she did.”

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith said: “I am glad that this case is finally being brought to trial and I hope the family will receive justice after this appalling tragedy. My thoughts are with them.”