Yahoo News Alice endured unimaginable tragedy to build a life with little sister Amy... but the 'twisted irony' of one man's deadly choice snatched it all away
Inspirational, hard working, beautiful and resilient. These are just some of the words that echoed through a small room at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.
Packed into the jury box in courtroom 10, Alice Birchall's family and friends waited with bated breath to find out how justice would be served on her killer Jonathon Hopkinson.
His Honour Judge Tom Bayliss told Hopkinson that he made reckless and deadly choices before Alice was thrown into his careering and speeding path on June 18, 2022. He chose to get into a car despite knowing he was over the drink-drive limit. He chose to do so with his daughter as a passenger in the car. He chose to drive at grossly excessive speeds for a considerable distance.
The court had already heard Hopkinson, 35, had driven at speeds of 100mph in residential streets with a limit of 30mph. It was 8.30pm. His selfish actions not only killed Alice but left himself and his daughter seriously injured. Eyewitnesses were caused distress and trauma as they pulled the three bodies from the wreckage of the crash he had caused.
Alice's sister Amy described the fact her sister had been killed by a drunk driver a "sick, twisted irony". The girls had both overcome adversity and trauma, having to live through their father's death and their grieving mother's spiral into alcoholism - one that included a drink-driving conviction - before she too died.
At the tender ages of just 17 and 20 years old, the girls were left with only each other and their supporting family members. Despite all she had gone through, Alice worked hard to build a life - one where she could take care of her little sister. She was so close to living out her dreams with a much-wished for career in jewellery design before Hopkinson cruelly ripped it away.
Brave Amy paid tribute to Alice with a statement she courageously read to the court. It illustrated Alice's personality, her love for her family and friends, and theirs for her, shining through.
As she spoke of their mother's drink-driving conviction, Amy told how the sisters turned to education for stability. She said: "School was the only time we could see each other...Alice learnt to look after herself. Support herself from the age of 16. Age 17 and 20, we lost our mother to alcoholism. We were distraught...
"We had lost our only surviving parent and now knew we only had each other. Only the two of us could understand the pain and trauma we went through. Anyone else would have given up on the idea of having a good life...Not Alice. She was determined to have a beautiful life."
Amy spoke of how Alice moved into a "beautiful" flat and "decorated it in all of the colours she liked". She said: "House proud, not a thing out of place. Before work she would get ready straight away so she could have a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit before she left. She always had to wear her marigold gloves washing up...The second I turned 18 I left foster care to live with her.
"Finally, it felt like we were a normal family again. We were together under one roof like sisters should be. I went to her for everything...She was my guardian. She was my sister. She was my best friend."
Amy told the court the sisters would talk about the future together, and Alice's new job. She said: "The love and absolute pride I have to be able to say that Alice Mary BIrchall was my sister. She was more than an inspiration to me and others. She was driving home from work, having handed in her notice the week before..."
The court heard that Alice had been allowed to leave work 15 minutes early on the day of the crash. Amy said: "Had she not been let home early she would not have been on the road at that time. Only five minutes away from home. The irony is sickening.
"Alice did everything she could to have a happy life. Letting nothing our alcoholic mother do ruin her life...The fact it was a drunk driver - something we experienced from our mother, something we had escaped from the years before. I find it a sick twisted irony that my sister was killed by a drunk driver. I will never forgive this.
"I had to look at the one person my whole life revolved around and I had to let her go...I have never felt more lost."
The court also heard from Alice's aunt Deborah Horsfall, who supported Alice and Amy along with her husband Richard. Following their mother's death, Ms Horsfall said Alice "grew up overnight". She added: "I was impressed by her resilience. She was a very determined young lady and understood everything and wanted to get things done..."
She spoke of the home Alice had made for her and her sister and said: "They were so happy and could at last be a family...Alice was a strong, independent young woman. She was beautiful inside and out...She had lots of friends and was a popular young lady. She was always smiling. She was always happy."
Ms Horsforth said Amy has lived with her since Alice died and said: "Two years next week. The senseless death of Alice has left a gaping hole in all of our lives. We all miss her positivity. We all miss her beautiful face..."
Hopkinson was jailed for eight years and made the subject of a 12-year driving disqualification, at the end of which he will have to take an extended retest.
Judge Bayliss said: "Ms Birchall was a much-loved, independent, resilient and determined young woman, who with her sister had experienced and overcome great personal tragedy and adversity. She was popular, she was devoted to her younger sister...The two of them had lost both parents, the two of them had built a future together...She did everything she could to build a life for herself and her sister."
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