Daughter of murdered Leeds dad Adam Chadwick joins bid to get justice over her father's unsolved killing

Brave Ruby Hewitt Chadwick had celebrated her third birthday just days earlier when Adam was fatally injured during a struggle with unknown intruders at his sister’s home in Clifton Mount, Harehills.

Adam was just 20 years old when he was shot on June 24, 2008.

Detectives have previously said that they believe the carpet fitter and footballer from Seacroft was the victim of mistaken identity.

Ruby said: "Someone out there knows who did this. I just want them to tell the police.

"We just want justice. Me and my family need some closure on this."

It comes after the YEP earlier this year spoke to Adam's parents Martin and Jackie Chadwick on the 12th anniversary of his death.

They said: "As Adam's parents, we will do everything in our power to get the people responsible for killing Adam."

Now Ruby, who said she felt she had been "robbed of a part of her childhood", has publicly joined her family in their bid to get justice for Adam.

She said: "All of my friends have dads and you see them together and they're close.

"It makes me wish I could have that relationship. I don't know what it feels like to have a dad and to do those things.

"It does make me angry because the killers have never been caught, but I'm just sad when that time of year comes around.

"I do celebrate my birthday, I try to enjoy it, but then straight away I'm back to being sad because it's the anniversary and it's always in the back of my mind that it's coming up."

Ruby was pictured in a little Leeds United shirt on the day of Adam's funeral in reference to his beloved football team.

Her grandparents say that as she has grown older, she is "the spitting image" of Adam and shares his sense of humour, love of fashion and some of his mannerisms.

Ruby, an aspiring beautician, added: "It makes me proud when my family tell me that I look like my dad or I do something and they say 'you're just like your dad'.

"It's like a part of him still lives on with me. I think about him every day of my life.

"I remember doing stuff with him and going to places. We'd go to the coast and stay in my gran's caravan for the weekend.

"I remember him just being fun and everyone tells me he was a very caring and loving person.

"I try to be like that, I try every day to make him proud in everything that I do.

"I think he would be proud of me if he could see me now."

Adam was watching a film at his sister's home when a mystery woman knocked on the door asking to speak to "Michelle", but Adam told her that nobody of that name lived there.

She returned to the house again at 10.40pm that night accompanied by three masked men who tried to force their way in and shot Adam in the struggle.

Despite extensive appeals, including a reconstruction on the BBC's Crimewatch programme and a reward of £10,000, no-one has been convicted.

Ruby added: "It would mean everything to me if we found out who it was.

"It would be a relief and I hope it would make my life and my family's lives a bit easier knowing that justice had been done.

"Somebody knows who killed my dad and knowing they were brought to justice would bring us all some closure."

Ruby's granddad Garry Hewitt, 63, whose daughter Hayley was dating Adam when he was killed, said: "Someone somewhere needs to do the right thing.

"Adam was a great lad, he enjoyed Ruby and she enjoyed him.

She was the love of his life, his little baby and he was a great dad in the short time he had with her.

"She's the double of him in every way - looks, personality and they both spent every penny they had on fashionable clothes.

"She's a happy girl and well looked after. Me, my wife Julie, Ruby's mum and Adam's parents Martin and Jackie do whatever we can for her.

"But nothing will ever replace her dad. She deserves some answers and Adam's parents deserve some closure on this.

"You walk down the street and you look at people because you think it could literally be anyone, so it must be even harder for them."

Adam's parents Martin and Jackie moved away from Leeds as they say they cannot bear to live near their son's killers.

Martin said: "We have moved from our home and jobs in Leeds because we could not bear to carry in the knowledge Adam's killers are still living close to us.

"We look at people and wonder if it was them. We need to know those people are no longer out there.

"We know we can't let it rest for the sake of Adam.

"Our Adam was a lovely lad and he didn't deserve for that to happen to him."

Adam's mum Jackie said: "Adam will always be in our thoughts and hearts but hopefully we can find some sort of peace and just focus on his memories and get back to some sort of happy life again."

West Yorkshire Police said it was still actively investigating the murder and believe someone in the community has information that could help their inquiries.

Detective Superintendent Jim Dunkerley said: “We remain absolutely committed to doing everything we can to find the people responsible for Adam’s murder and to get his family the answers they still desperately need.

“We know there will still be people out there who know what happened that night and who was involved, and keeping that secret must still weigh heavily on their consciences despite the years that have passed.

“It is never too late for them to come forward and tell us what they know and to finally give Adam’s family the closure they need.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call 101 quoting Operation Pimento.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Laura Collins