Mina Smallman, the first female archdeacon from an ethnic minority background, has spoken about forgiving the man who murdered her two daughters but refusing to forgive the police until they change. Her daughters were killed after a birthday celebration, and police failed to search for them initially. Later, officers at the crime scene took and shared selfies with the bodies, sparking national outrage.
Smallman, who grew up in poverty and chaos, became a teacher and later an archdeacon. After the murders, she found strength to campaign against violence against women and give talks to police. She describes feeling robbed of hope for the first time in her life.
In her new book, 'A Better Tomorrow: Life Lessons in Hope & Strength', Smallman shares her journey. She tells Helen Pidd about her life, hopes, and where she finds her strength to fight back against injustice.
