THE WIDOW of former Ebbw Vale steel worker Arron Powell, who was knifed to death in France, is struggling with a crippling legal bill in her bid for justice.

Maria Powell has already spent £9,000 after her 56-year-old husband was stabbed through the heart in Orleans railway station last April and faces total costs of £20,000. She has to pay her own fees because the French legal system stipulates that criminal injuries claims for compensation are part of the criminal proceedings, and do not form civil proceedings.

She is not entitled to legal aid and there is no guarantee she will receive a penny in compensation.

And the trial of 20-year-old Elias Laguedani, charged with his murder, due to take place next month or July, is now likely to be adjourned until later on in the year because of a summer recess of the French judicial system.

Mrs Powell, 46, from Grangetown, Cardiff, yesterday told the Argus about the financial strain she is under and how she has had to cope with the double tragedy of Mr Powell's death just 14 months after the couple's 20-year-old daughter Mandy Powell was killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Mrs Powell, who is now bringing up Mandy's four-year-old daughter Renee, said: "Finding the money to go on is a struggle and I've still got a lot more to find." Speaking of her husband and daughter's death, she said: "It has been a terrible time and I find it very hard to talk about.

"It doesn't get any easier with time, in fact, I think it gets worse. "There are some days when I just don't feel like getting up, but I look at Renee and know I have to do it for her.

"All my time and effort is spent looking after Renee which is what she would have wanted. "Two monsters have ruined my life but I won't let them ruin Renee's life.

"The adjournment is another blow and I'll be glad when it's all over." Mrs Powell said she was grateful to close family friends Eric and Linda Harmer, who run the Duke of Clarence pub in Canton, Cardiff, for their support.

Mr Harmer vowed he would support Mrs Powell himself if he had to: "I would remortgage by own house if I had to.

"There's no question of her not being able to proceed with the case." He is critical of the National Assembly and is angry that no politician had offered any advice, let alone assistance, after he claims he has approached Assembly Members from across the political spectrum for help.

"I'm disgusted. After all this was an totally innocent Welshman who was killed abroad. "It may not mean a lot to them, but it does to us."

Mrs Powell said that her husband's friends in Ebbw Vale had helped raise almost £800 which went towards paying legal costs.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Mr Harmer on 029 20 378033.

PICTURED: Maria Powell, widow of Arron Powell, with her grandchild Renee, five, and family friend Eric Harmer.