Killer's Wife Praises Amish Community for Mercy

The widow of the man who shot dead five Amish girls in a small Pennsylvanian schoolhouse has praised the Amish community for the love and forgiveness they have shown in the weeks following the horrific event.

Marie Roberts said she and her family were overwhelmed by the "forgiveness, grace and mercy" that had been shown to them since her husband, Charles Roberts, stormed the schoolhouse on 2 October killing five girls, before turning the gun on himself.

The Amish touched hearts around the world with their generous outpouring of love in the face of such a tragedy, repeating again and again Jesus' message of forgiveness and stressing that they had forgiven the killer.

The Amish community of Nickel Mines has also helped set up a fund for the Roberts family at a local bank, reports the BBC.

Marie Roberts wrote in a letter addressed to Amish friends, neighbours and the local community: "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need."

Mrs Roberts also sincerely thanked the Amish for their compassion on the behalf of herself, her three young children and the rest of her family.

According to the local Lancaster newspaper website, the aunt of Mrs Roberts was welcomed into the home of victim Marian Fisher by the girl's mother and grandmother the day after the shooting.

Mrs Roberts' grandfather is also reported to have attended Marian's funeral.

Five girls between the ages of seven and 13 were killed when Charles Roberts went on a shooting spree in the classroom of the West Nickel Mines Amish School on the morning of 2 October. He left another five critically injured.

The bloodstained schoolhouse was demolished last Thursday to bring at least some measure of closure to the tragic event.

"Please know that our hearts have been broken by all that has happened. We are filled with sorrow for all of our Amish neighbours whom we have loved and continue to love," Mrs Roberts says in her letter.

"We know there are many hard days ahead for all the families who lost loved ones, and so we will continue to put our hope and trust in the God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives," she wrote.

There was some good news to emerge from the tragedy, however, as the New Era of Lancaster newspaper reported that Barbie Fisher, 11, the sister of Marian, was allowed home from hospital on Friday, her grandfather said.