Michelle Hanson murder: Family still in the dark a year later

Michelle Hanson died of neck injuries inflicted by a blade

The family of a murdered grandmother say they are still without answers a year on from her death.

Alexander Carr stabbed Michelle Hanson 29 times in Sunderland. He was arrested after an 18-day manhunt.

Carr, 33, admitted her murder and was jailed for more than 19 years, but he has never revealed why he killed the 47-year-old mother of five.

Her daughter, Shannon Brown, said: "I still don't know to this day why he even did it."

Ms Hanson's body was found by a family member on 3 December at her home in Brady Street.

A nationwide search was launched for Carr, who was a student, and he was discovered living in a tent on a railway embankment in north London.

He was jailed in June at Newcastle Crown Court for a minimum term of 19 years and three months.

Alexander Carr admitted murdering Michelle Hanson

Speaking a year on from when her mother was last seen alive, Ms Brown said she has been receiving counselling because of constant "night terrors".

"In 20 years' time he's going to be out walking the streets, and I just don't think that's fair at all," she added.

"He'll be out of jail around the age my mam was when he killed her."

Shannon Brown remembers her mother as "always cracking jokes"

Ms Brown will visit the family grave on Friday along with her brothers, where they will lay flowers, and on Sunday they will remember Ms Hanson at her favourite beach.

"It was her favourite place and we are going to do a little balloon release for her and have a shot of whiskey to remember her," she said.

"Everything we do now, we are doing it for my mam, everything."

Michelle Hanson's family said she was kind and would help anyone

Ms Brown said she often shows her daughter a short video of her grandmother, filmed just weeks before she was murdered.

"She was crazy, funny - she was the life and soul of the party," she remembered.

"[In the video] she says, 'Hiya Lexi, it's your crazy nana here,' and she doesn't have her false teeth in. Lexi loves it. It's only 30 seconds but she loves watching it.

"Obviously it's heart-breaking but I have to stay strong for her sake - because I think if I break, she will break."