Video: Family pay tribute to Sam with ceremony

10:18am Tuesday 9th January 2007

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THE family of a mother-of-two who died after being stabbed 45 times have held a candlelit memorial ceremony.

The children and younger sister of Sanambir Punni told News Shopper about their pain following the events of August last year in Beaumont Drive, Northfleet.

The beautician, known as Sam, was found lying dead at the bottom of the stairs.

Her body was discovered after firefighters found her husband, Nachhater Punni, had set fire to himself in the driving seat of a Ford Mondeo at the rear of the property.

Police investigating the scene found blood-stained clothes at the top of the stairs and a knife in the bathroom sink.

An inquest ruled Mrs Punni had been unlawfully killed and her husband had taken his own life.

A statement issued by the family following the incident described Sam as a caring person with a big heart who would be missed by everyone who knew her.

Now, several months on, Mrs Punni's sister Baljinder Poonian, 31, told News Shopper the remembrance day marked the fact Sam is gone and the family are trying to move on.

Friends and relatives gathered at her parents' house, also in Beaumont Drive, on what would have been her 39th birthday.

Around 70 people lit candles and looked at boards full of photos, accompanied by the words "Sam, good looks, beautician, angel".

Mrs Poonian says Sam's nearest and dearest want her remembered for the person she was, not the "awful" events of August.

The NVQ assessor said: "Everyone talked about how awful it was.

"We were sat there thinking what we could do as it was her birthday coming up and we just did not want it to pass by.

"It's really trying to find closure; it's to say she is gone and we really have to get on now.

Sam's daughter Sharon, 19, says she believes her mother was looking down on them.

She said: "It's my mum's 39th birthday and as she is not with us, we like remembering her on her birthday and lighting candles on her behalf."

Sharon added: "She is never going to be forgotten.

"She is always going to be with us and we are going to keep her name alive forever."

Sonny, Sam's 17-year-old son, said: "My mum was a lovely person. I love her to bits."