The granddaughter of a woman who was murdered in her back garden will run the London marathon in her memory.

Christina Silva told the Enfield Independent that running the marathon for her grandmother Palmira will help her in her “rehabilitation” after the traumatic death.

Mrs Silva, a great-grandmother, was brutally killed in her garden, in Nightingale Road, on September 4, 2014.

The secondary school teacher ran the marathon in 2013 and has now received a place at the London Marathon this year to raise money for victim support.

She said: “I will never forget the day it happened. What started off as a normal day at work turned into the worse day of my life, even today it feels like a nightmare that I will wake up from and everything will return to normal.

“I had so many missed calls from my mum, sisters and brother, I knew then that something bad had happened.

“The next phone call changed mine and my family’s life forever. When I received the news I didn’t realise the extent of what had happened, it was worldwide news. When I heard what happened to my dear Nan I felt physically sick and nearly passed out.”

Ms Silva revealed it took her a long time to recover from the day’s tragic events and even feared running again, her “passion.”

She said: “Slowly but surely my life is getting back on track, the dark nights are becoming less scary.  It took over a month before I felt ready to go for a run.”

When deciding on what to raise money for, Ms Silva said there was no question that she would be running for victim support.

She said: “The support they offer innocent people is paramount especially at a time when family’s lives are torn apart; their support is second none.

“Victim Support has supported me and my family from day one and I know they are always a phone call away. I am a firm believer in giving back to people that give so much, just like my nan.”

Nicholas Salvadore has been charged with Palmira Silva’s murder and will stand trial later this year.

The granddaughter added: “It has been tough but I think that the marathon will end this traumatic chapter and I have doubt there will be tears at the end.

“My nan was an amazing woman who gave everything to help others, I hope she will be watching and I hope to make her proud.”

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