A MURDER conviction for their son’s killer has not helped the grieving process for the family of James Dean. The victim’s mother, Martine, said yesterday that she had just wanted proceedings to be over.

‘In some ways the grieving has got worse because you can train your mind into thinking that James will come back, but then the reality starts to kick in,’ she said. ‘I’d say that every day is a bad one, but some are worse than others.’

Father Chris said Rouget’s conviction had resulted in euphoria and emotion followed by a feeling of ‘comedown’.

‘In some ways, knowing there was going to be a trial gave me something to focus on,’ he said.

‘We knew there would be an outcome and we hoped it would be the right one.

‘The trial meant that somebody was hopefully going to pay for what happened to James, but we wanted to see the back of it.

‘Even though he ‘Rouget’ has been found guilty, James is not here.’

But they were nevertheless content with the court’s verdict.

Mr Dean said the start of the football season in a fortnight’s time would bring back strong memories of his son. The men used to go to The Plough Inn and watch games together on television, particularly when Spurs were playing.

‘I can go with his mates, who are always pleased to see me, but I’ll never go again with James.’

James’s sister, Lindsey McLaren, said the family had relied on each other for support.

‘Because we are a close family, we pick up on it when someone is having a particularly bad day and we try to give each other a lift,’ she said.

Sister Kelly said friends had given amazing support and those of James had kept in contact.

The family received more than 450 sympathy cards and letters and their daughter’s house had resembled a florist’s.

Mr and Mrs Dean were on holiday in France on the night of the tragedy and had felt unable to go home when they got back to Guernsey the following day, so stayed with Mrs McLaren and son-in-law Paul.

Cards included one from a woman who had stroked James’ head and tried to keep him comfortable while he lay on the pavement waiting for the ambulance.

The family said they were indebted to many people for their help, support and compassion over the past 10 months.

The family is eternally grateful to the police, including family liaison officer Andy Pumford, and to Detective Chief Inspector Peter Dowding, who led the enquiry.

They also thanked ambulance and hospital staff, who had done their utmost to try to save James.

They are also grateful to everybody who sent messages of goodwill and to those who helped the police investigation, some of whom gave testimony in court.

n The Royal Court sentenced Craig Rouget, 19, to life imprisonment on Friday for

the murder in September of James Dean, 21.

The minimum sentence Rouget must serve in the UK will be determined at a hearing in the autumn.

The Dean family sat through the whole of the two-week trial, during which Rouget admitted stabbing James Dean but claimed he had acted in self-defence.