Kiwi jihadi Mark John Taylor has been charged under the Terrorism Suppression Act and the Deputy Police Commissioner is under investigation. Video / NZ Herald
Josiah Lamont broke into tears as he spoke to the Herald about his loss as he returned his wife’s body to her home in Napier.
“It’s still fresh,” he said. “She was unique and so caring and loving. There’s no one like her.”
Amelia Stockdale Lamont and her family at their new home in Rotorua. Photo / Supplied
The pair met as teenagers and married four years ago. They worked as youth pastors together and had only recently moved to Rotorua to start a new life with their daughters Hazel, 3, and Ava, 4.
“Amelia was a devoted mother. She was a devoted mother and a fantastic artist. She’s left behind some very good memories. She was an adventurous woman. She was a real cool chick.
“My next steps are to honour my wife and raise my children,” Lamont said.
He was finding solace in his faith in God: “God is my rock. He is my shelter. I believe he will lead me to being the best possible father to my children.”
Ruben Stockdale-Frost, 19, and Amelia Stockdale Lamont, 26, both of Napier, died after a crash on SH5 near Rotorua on Monday. Photo / Supplied
Seven people were involved in the crash on State Highway 5 on Monday night, four of whom have died.
Stockdale Lamont, 26, died with her brother Ruben Stockdale-Frost, 19. Mary-Jane Heke, 50, a grandmother of five, also died.
Two others were injured and another was uninjured, police said.
Lamont also paid tribute to his younger brother-in-law Stockdale-Frost, telling the Herald he was a passionate musician whose content was available to stream on Spotify.
“He was making waves. You can actually listen to his music. It’s ‘Ruben Sto’, he was a cool kid and he had extreme talent.
“He wasn’t out necessarily out there, but I’m keen for him to get out there.
“To be able to share this information with [the Herald], it actually excites me, because I was his biggest supporter."
Amelia Stockdale Lamont is "dancing among heaven’s flowers", her widower Josiah Lamont says. Photo / Supplied
Lamont earlier wrote about Stockdale-Frost online, describing him as “one of the greatest young men I’ve ever known”.
Lamont also wrote of his late wife, “my girl is dancing among heaven’s flowers”.
“My children, our extended whānau and I are crushed to lose our precious love.”
Lamont thanked those who had rallied to support him and his family in their time of need, in particular, the CS Church in Rotorua and Keswick Christian Camp - “their community is just incredible”.
Josiah Lamont (left), Hazel, Ava and Amelia Stockdale Lamont. Photo / Supplied
Hawkins said the pair had “their whole lives ahead of them”.
“As a community of people who loved them dearly, we are with their whānau and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.”
A funeral for Stockdale Lamont and Stockdale-Frost will be held at 10am on Saturday at Engage Church in Napier. The pair will lay at rest at Kohupatiki Marae on Friday night after earlier laying at individual private addresses.
Lamont told the Herald he was looking forward to the opportunity to grieve the loss of his wife with other mourners and to share the special moments Stockdale Lamont had with all those she met.
“Let’s together let the love of God fill our hearts [as] we reflect and grieve the loss of our precious family.
“Let the love of our whānau cling to and comfort each other in our time of hurt and let both Millie and Ruben’s example of love carry us all into the arms of Jesus, [with whom] I’m confident they’re both resting,” Lamont said.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
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