Family of Westminster terror attack victim Leslie Rhodes speak of anger at his death

The family of a "very nice, warm, loving man" killed in the Westminster attack have spoken of their shock and anger at the manner of his death.

Relatives of Leslie Rhodes said they were still struggling to come to terms with the "horrendous" atrocity that snatched the life of the 75-year-old, as well as four other victims.

Speaking on the day of his funeral in Morden on Friday, his family said he was a gentle man who had "never done anybody any harm".

The retired window cleaner from Clapham, south London, died at King’s College Hospital on the night following the 22 March attack.

He had been attending a hospital appointment when he was rundown on Westminster Bridge.

In a devastating rampage that lasted just 82 seconds, attacker Khalid Masood ploughed a rental car at high speed into pedestrians before stabbing to death 48-year-old police officer Keith Palmer, in the Palace of Westminster’s courtyard.

Andreea Cristea, 31, Kurt Cochran, 54, and Aysha Frade, 44, also died after being struck on the bridge by Masood.

Paying tribute to Mr Rhodes, his sister-in-law Carol Carney, 72, said emotions were running high and she remained "very, very angry at what happened".

Mrs Carney said she learned of the attack while having a coffee with friends and only found out Mr Rhodes had been one of the five victims later on.

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Talking about her reaction, she told sky News she was "shocked, angry" and that it was "just unbelievable what he (Masood) did, and how he wiped out people’s lives is terrible".

She added: "Les was just going about his business to the hospital and this so-called man thought he’d get in a car, stay in a hotel, have a drink at the bar; next morning got himself ready, go in and knowing what he was going to do, he killed all those people.

"And that was five families.

"I am just angry.

"It’s horrendous what has happened. You don’t think it can happen to people you know."

Describing Mr Rhodes as "a very, very gentle man", Mrs Carney recalled he was always ready to help neighbours, including cleaning for free the windows of elderly people who could not afford it.

She said: "So many people have been really, really touched by what has happened to a kind man who has never done anybody any harm in his life, and his life got taken away."

Speaking outside the pensioner’s flat, where tributes were left and friends and family gathered ahead of the service, Mrs Carney also recalled Mr Rhodes visiting and helping with her children when his brother Brian, her husband, died aged just 34.

Describing him as being like "a surrogate dad" to her four children, she said: "He was a very gentle, caring man and the way he went isn’t fair."

(c) Sky News 2017: Family of Westminster terror attack victim Leslie Rhodes speak of anger at his death