A WIDOW bravely faced her husband's killer as he failed to convince judges to reduce his jail term.

Gulsen Alkan spoke of her relief after Trevor Joyce's bid for a lesser sentence was thrown out at the Court of Appeal, after he was jailed for knifing her husband Justin Skrebowski in Abingdon's Poundland store in 2015.

The North Oxford mother-of-twins attended the schizophrenic's hearing in London yesterday, wearing a handmade badge bearing Mr Skrebowski's face.

Drug addict Joyce was sentenced to life in June for stabbing 61-year-old Mr Skrebowski as the antiques dealer brought balloons on his wife's birthday.

Mrs Alkan, 40, told the Oxford Mail: "This is proof that the first judge's decision was right. It wasn't totally Joyce's fault [because of his illness], but it was up to him to take drugs and make himself angry. 

"I knew I would not be able to speak my opinion [in court], but I needed to be there to show to him that me and my children exist.

"I wanted him to know that we are missing [Justin] and that losing him left a big gap for us. I wore the picture on my cardigan because it was like I had brought Justin along too. Everyone could see him."

Joyce, 37, was sentenced at the Old Bailey last year after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

He can apply for parole after serving nine years in jail - but his barrister argued that the minimum term was too long. 

The court was reminded yesterday how Joyce took a 20 inch knife from the store on December 7, 2015, and stabbed Mr Skrebowski in the aisle.

He then brandished the knife and a five-inch long carving fork at strangers in the street, threatening to kill them.

Mrs Alkan said the details were too upsetting to hear and she had to step out of the room while they discussed what happened to Mr Skrebowski, who was father to their five-year-old twins Enes and Rosy.

Joyce, of Franklyn Close in Abingdon, appeared via video link from Broadmoor Hospital. 

He is being treated for mental illness at the high-security psychiatric unit before he serving his time behind bars.

David Hislop QC, representing Joyce, argued the killer's schizophrenia - paired with a concoction of drugs he took that morning - meant he was not completely in control of his actions when he killed.

He told the court: "None of the psychiatrists suggested he retained significant responsibility.

"The court did not take into account the past failures to address his alcohol and drugs addiction in making his mental condition worse.

"The schizophrenia impaired his ability to exercise self-control. 

"He didn't have any real insight into the dangers of psychoactive substances and alcohol and how this affected his condition."

But Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Lord Justice Sir Coleman Treacy and Mrs Justice Maura McGowan, dismissed the appeal. 

Mrs Alkan, who has taken over her husband's picture framing business, successfully fought to make knife sales safer after her husband's death.

She secured another victory in persuading the Oxfordshire coroner to resume Mr Skrebowski's inquest, after highlighting potential healthcare failures that she said allowed Joyce to kill. 

The pre-inquest review is scheduled at Oxford Coroner's Court on Thursday.