two decades without answers

Gemma was travelling in a car with her stepdad, Dean. They were hit by a stolen van on Slade Green Road, in Erith, south-east London, on May 19, 2003.

Gemma was an Erith School pupil, on her way to Girl Guides at the time of the crash. Gemma had to be cut from the wreckage but died at the scene. The driver of the van fled the accident and no one has been charged in connection with Gemma’s death.

Gemma’s mother Janet, has said so many times that she had hoped new information about the hit and run could be uncovered after previously running into a “wall of silence”. In an interview in 2013, Janet  said

 “The ideal scenario would be for someone to come forward who knows something. It has been 10 years, there are people out there who might have kids of their own now and might think ‘why didn’t I come forward before?’

It has now been 20 years and Janet is more determined than ever to have justice for her beloved daughter.

“We have just tried everything. Every year I go down to Slade Green and put Gemma’s name up in flowers. The day I stop doing that is the day I get justice for her. I re-live what happened every single day. She is in my mind 24/7. The instant pain when we lost her felt like someone had ripped my guts out. The raw pain is not there any more but I still re-live the accident.” This is a mother, lost in her grief and suffering with years of torment because of a coward that is hiding behind the truth. 

Each year family and friends mark the anniversary with vigil where they gather at the spot where the 12-year-old was killed. The accident took place in Slade Green Road, near the junction with Canada Road, Slade Green, at about 7.10pm.

Anyone with any information should contact Bexley Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Lets get justice for Gemma.

In 2013, as the tenth anniversary approached a Twitter campaign was launched with the #JusticeForGemma which was retweeted by Boris Johnson, Patsy Palmer and Daniella Westbrook. The Met Police got on board and 'had another look' at Gemma's case. Nothing came of it. Here you are still being asked for help to get this sorted for the family. 

Gemma was twelve. Let that sink in for a moment. In her first year of secondary school, had her whole life ahead of her but Gemma never got to grow up. 

Her 18th, 21st and 30th birthdays should have been amazing celebrations of life and other achievements such as her education, career and family. Instead they are all just a dream. "What would Gemma have been like now?" 

Gemma is now an aunty but her nieces and nephew will only know of stories of their aunty, with a limited amount of moving footage and a handful of photos too. 

In 2023, a public invitation has been circulating online and in the local area to invite all who remember Gemma to a vigil to remember her for the 20th anniversary. The details are below: 

20th Anniversary Vigil to Remember Gemma Rolfe. Slade Green Road + Canada Road Junction, DA8 2JW 18:50-19:20.