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Tragic story of murdered transsexual, whose uncle was one of the Guildford Four
THE tragic life story of a murdered Kentish Town transsexual became clear this week when it was revealed the victim's mother had committed suicide four years ago and her uncle spent 15 years in prison falsely convicted of an IRA bombing.
Destiny Lauren, 29, born Justin Samuels, was found dead at around 1am on Thursday November 5, in her flat on Leighton Crescent.
It was almost four years to the day since her mother Elizabeth Hill took her own life outside the same flat.
During her life Belfast born Elizabeth Hill had to cope seeing her brother Paul, one of the Guildford Four, suffer a gross miscarriage of justice when he was wrongly convicted in 1975 of two pub bombings. She was questioned herself and then had endure the strain of relentlessly campaigning for the innocent man's release over the next 15 years.
This week Julian Samuels, 26, brother of Ms Lauren, told the Ham&High: "It does feel as though the family is cursed. It is strange. We are just in shock and trying to stay strong.
Of the latest tragedy to strike the family Mr Samuels, who lives with his father Anthony in Lambeth, said: "When I heard the news about Destiny I rushed up there in a cab with my dad. I ran through the police cordon but they would not let me upstairs because the forensics officers were in there. I just lay outside the door crying on the floor.
"We were sat in the family room at the hospital and the doctors came in and said they had tried everything but they could not do anymore. I still have not come to terms with it. It is such a shock.
"She was so small she was only about eight stone. She did not deserve this."
Ms Lauren was a pre-operative male to female transsexual and worked as an escort girl.
She was well-known and well-liked throughout London's transsexual scene and according to her brother, counted Boy George among her many friends.
Although she was born as a brother Destiny became a loving sister to Mr Samuels.
Mr Samuels, who has three other brothers Lyndon, Michael and Robert, said: "She loved life and everyone who met her was fond of her. We always used to go up to Kenwood House on the Heath where she used to enjoy sitting there and having a glass of wine. She loved that area. She used to confide in me and tell me things she would not tell others.
"Destiny looked like a woman and wanted to be a woman from an early age.
"At first I did not agree with what she did to earn money but I came to terms with it because I loved her. She was very strong willed and would not let anyone tell her what to do."
Ms Lauren was only weeks short of celebrating her 30th birthday and was preparing for the painful anniversary of her mother's death on November 18.
"I don't think I have ever come to terms with my mother's death to this day," said Mr Samuels.
"When Paul was arrested she was kept in a police station for a week and was continuously harassed by them. It affected her in a very big way.
"Destiny lived with my mum. She took over the flat after she died but she didn't really want to stay there. She was lonely up there by herself."
Ben McPartland
Not long after his release from prison Paul Hill married Courtney Kennedy daughter of murdered senator Bobby and niece of JFK and became part of another family torn apart by tragedy.
* Leon Fyle, 21, of Laleham Road Catford, has been charged with the murder of Destiny Lauren.
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