I KILLED MY MUM'S RAPIST
Oct 14 2004
You always say you would kill for your kids, but you don't expect your kids to kill for you
By Paul Byrne And Daniel Boffey
RAPED mum Yvonne Bick said yesterday she was proud of the teenage son who killed her brutal attacker.
Yvonne, 48, told the Mirror in an exclusive interview: "You always say you'd kill for your kids, but you don't expect your kids to kill for you.
"He's a good boy who's never been in trouble before. He did what any son would do to protect his mother."
Marc Bick was 16 when he learned that drug addict and neighbour Derek Duffet had assaulted Yvonne after threatening her with a wrench.
Angry and confused, the youngster vowed revenge and confronted the brute a week after Christmas.
When Duffet sneered "For f***s sake, it was only a bit of fun" Marc lashed out in fury with a cricket bat. Duffet, 40, slumped to the floor and died three days later. His death was due to the fall and not the blow from the bat.
A-level student Marc, who has 10 GCSEs, was originally charged with murder. He admitted manslaughter at Stafford crown court and is on bail awaiting sentence next month.
Yesterday mum of three Yvonne, just 5ft 2ins tall, recalled the horrific moment 6ft Duffet raped her at her home in Newport, Shropshire. She said: "He pinned me down and I couldn't move him.
"He was too strong - there was nothing I could do. I just tried to blank out what was happening because my kids were upstairs asleep in bed."
Yvonne kept the attack from Marc, his sister, now 16, and brother, 11. She also decided not to report it to police, believing it would spoil Christmas celebrations for her children.
Only her family doctor knew the truth. But Marc became suspicious after finding his mother constantly crying and vomiting.
Yvonne broke down and told him of her ordeal. She said: "He was so upset, angry and crying. He's so gentle and couldn't believe this had happened.
"He said he'd kill Duffet. But he didn't mean it. He just meant to hurt him." On December 30, screwing up his courage, Marc bravely told the rapist his ugly secret was out.
Yvonne said: "Duffet said 'It was only a bit of fun'. That will always stay with me. Marc never loses his temper. But he lost it that once.
"I'm glad Duffet is dead. He hasn't just ruined my life. He's ruined the whole family's lives. I just wish it was me who had been arrested, not Marc."
When Marc appeared in court, prosecuting QC Stephen Linehan said: "Taking into account the details, his age and good character, this is not a case that would be in the public interest to ask for a murder conviction.
"He was only 16 and facing a situation that days earlier his mother was raped by the deceased. He said he was upset and confused and uncertain about what to do."
Mr Linehan said the rape allegation had never been investigated. Marc, now 17, is living with his father David, 50, in London, while he awaits his fate. But he speaks to his mother on the phone.
Yvonne said: "He's trying to be positive, tells me not to worry and asks me how I am. I just want him to be allowed to get on with his life.
"People round here are glad Duffet is dead. I know that sounds wicked, but if it hadn't been me I believe he'd have attacked a young girl."
Mentally scarred by the rape and distressed at the arrest of her young son Yvonne swallows a daily cocktail of 18 pills, including anti-depressants.
She will also have to endure a series of HIV tests before she knows for certain she has not been infected.
Duffet's brother Robert said in a statement on behalf of his family: "Regardless of what may or may not have taken place before the assault on Derek, he didn't deserve to lose his life.
"We'd expect that such matters be reported to the police rather than the law being taken into people's hands.
"Derek will never be able to give his side of the story. But we respect the manslaughter plea and will accept whatever punishment is imposed."
Marc is advised not to discuss the case until he has been sentenced.
*sigh* I don't really know what to say about this. I'm in two minds about it. I don't think what this boy did was right. Killing someone is still killing someone no matter what. He has ruined his own life. However, I understand why he did it. I also know if anything like that happened to me, I would be in the same state of mind, of wanting to protect my family no matter what. That's how we work, we want to protect those closest to us the most. We don't want anyone to hurt them, and when they do get hurt, and wrongly so, we will do just about anything to get revenge. There is a right way and a wrong way of doing this though. I would quite happily take a cricket bat to any rapist I ever came across, thats what my heart says at least. When faced with the situation, I'm sure my head would rule, and realise that there was better ways of dealing with the situation. This boy is young, he did what he thought was right, I just hope he doesn't end up regretting it.