Muriel and Bob Hussey and sister NicholaWILLIAMS VERDICT: THROUGHOUT the month-long trial, Natalie Williams' family have been a united picture of dignity and composure.

But the gritty composure cracked as the son-in-law and brother-in-law, once part of their close-knit family unit, was finally unmasked as a cold-blooded killer and ultimate conman.

Tears flowed freely as the relief of the jury's verdict mixed painfully with the horrific memories of April 2002 when they were first told pretty Natalie had been brutally murdered.

Brave parents Bob and Muriel Hussey choked back tears as they sat in the public gallery with their daughters Jacqueline and Nichola all united as one in grief and emotional exhaustion. No-one can imagine the pain of the last 15 months but outside the courtrooms, which finally brought justice for tragic Natalie, Nichola Laverton paid a touching tribute to her "stunningly beautiful, caring and loving sister" who she believed

didn't stand a chance when confronted with the calculating Williams.

"The most horrible nightmare imaginable became a reality the day the police told us the devastating news that our youngest daughter and sister, Natalie, had been murdered," she said.

"No words can ever describe the pain we feel at losing our darling daughter, whose life has been cut short by this terrible deed.

"We will never come to terms with the loss of Natalie and we miss her every hour of every day. Our lives have become empty and meaningless. We miss her so much.

"She was a stunningly beautiful, warm, caring and loving person full of vitality and laughter."

The family, who were forced to play second fiddle to Williams and his crocodile tears at their own daughter's funeral, finally got the chance to lay their feelings bare, labelling the computer software designer as a "deceitful and evil" man.

Mrs Laverton said: "As a family we have absolutely no doubt that this is the correct verdict, but this can never replace Natalie.

"Randle Williams created a profile of lies about Natalie to discredit her and other innocent people to disguise his guilt and in doing so he has revealed his true depraved character.

"The horror of this crime will live with us for the rest of our lives.

"We still don't understand how someone could take her life in this pernicious way and then be released on bail to assert kinship and continue with his own life in freedom for 15 months until his eventual trial and conviction."

Mrs Hussey, looking shaken by the tortuous ordeal, described the full agony of losing a daughter in a few simple lines: "It has been horrendous, utterly unbelievable. We felt we had to be here for Natalie. We loved her so much.

"Nothing will ever be the same."