Councillor Anna Burrage speaks at the gathering on the Kingsland estate

CANDLES were lit in Primrose Hill on Friday as neighbours remem­bered their friend Nicole Hurley, the mother-of-four murdered by her partner.

Ms Hurley’s death in 2021 left a community in shock with police charging Jason Bell for stabbing her in front of her children on the Kingsland estate in Broxwood Way. He was jailed last month for a minimum of 22 years.

To mark the end of the criminal proceedings, ward councillor Anna Burrage organised the vigil.

Brigitte Clements, a neighbour and friend of Nicole, pointed to Ms Hurley’s flat and told the gathering: “What happened there… there are no words. I deeply miss her kids. I’m very happy that they have a home and a chance at a life that they didn’t have here.

“The night of the murder. . . made people really evaluate. People started trusting each other. This is real. This is what makes this home.

“[Nicole’s family] couldn’t be here tonight because of work and logistics but also the news about Jason’s sentencing is a sad one for them. 22 years is astonishing. It’s shocking and it’s disappointing.

“They did want to say thank you to Camden Council for all the support that you guys gave. The kids are doing really well.”

SEE ALSO MAN WHO MURDERED PARTNER IS SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON

Nicole’s father, Tom Hurley, told the New Journal: “We as a family accept the sentence handed down by the judicial system in this country but we’re not happy with it. For such a horrific crime which was witnessed by the children of the deceased surely the sentence should have been more severe.”

For Nicole’s friends the 22 year tariff on Bell’s life sentence is not long enough, and he could be free in his 60s.
Alison Pritchard, who has lived in the Kingsland estate for 29 years, set up the tenants and residents association after the murder.

She told the New Journal: “I set up the TRA just to get everyone together because of the impact and how it affected us. We came together as a community going ‘wow this was on our doorstep’.

“It’s not about interfering, it’s about knowing we’re here. We’ve got a WhatsApp group where you can say ‘I’m really struggling today’ and so people know. That really brought us together.”

Nicole was a young mother, like a lot of us, with four of the most polite children that would take your rubbish out, help you. When they left you really felt it.

“It’s something you never think would happen, it happens to someone else. You read it on the news, not on your doorstep.”

Ms Hurley’s friend and neighbour Brigitte Clements

Cllr Burrage told the vigil: “We’re here this evening to commemorate Nicole and to mark the end to a degree of the tragic saga which a couple of weeks ago saw Nicole’s husband sentenced to 22 years in prison. We must all condemn violence against women, domestic or otherwise, because the effects ripple through all of society.

“I’m desperately sorry that Nicole’s children will forever bear the scars of losing their mother as will you, her neighbours.”

While neighbours said they loved their tight-knit community, they felt Kingsland had been ignored by the council’s repairs team.

Ms Hurley was repeatedly stabbed by Jason Bell, who has been sentenced to a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years

Ms Pritchard told the New Journal: “It’s been neglected because we are at the end of the borough. We understand there’s no money but at the minimum come out. We’re paying high rent. But they’re not bothered.”

She added Nicole’s flat has not been cleared out or boarded up by the council and people had been climbing on the roof and getting inside.

Ms Clements said: “I love Kingsland, there is nowhere better to live in London. But the estate is crumbling. Downstairs it’s flooded. It’s raining in people’s houses and it’s not ok.”

Cllr Burrage said: “This special corner of Camden has been neglected for a long time. I hear your concerns about your homes, the pest problems, leaks cracking of the walls and ceilings.

“I can’t say we can solve it because clearly resources really are limited but I do hear it to try to get these problems solved as far as possible.”