Cassie’s murderer sentenced as #agentsunited raises £7,500

That was the message from Bruce Martin, managing director of Facebook site Travel Gossip, who told TTG he handed over the proceeds of a two-month fundraising campaign – totalling £7,500 – to Cassie’s family last month.

More than 500 people donated to Travel Gossip’s Go Fund Me page, set up just hours after travel agent Cassie, 28, was brutally murdered in front of shocked co-workers and customers at Tui’s Southport branch in January.

Andrew Burke, 31, of St Helens, appeared at Liverpool crown court on April 9, where he admitted murdering Cassie. He was jailed for life on a minimum term of 26 years.

Cassie’s family said their lives had been “torn apart” and they would “forever be broken” by her loss.

Martin said he understood Cassie’s family would use the money to support her young daughter Ruby, who is four. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision when the news broke,” he said of the fundraising campaign, which coincided with the launch of the hashtag #agentsunited.

“It was Trevor Davis from 3FOR’s idea. Cassie’s death hit the Travel Gossip community hard and, as the owner, I felt I had a responsibility to do something. The response was amazing. It was humbling. It just shows the spirit within the industry.

“#Agentsunited brought thousands of agents together, all supporting each other through this. The movement will live on. It’s important we maintain that spirit.”

According to the BBC, the court heard how Burke went to the Chapel Street store on January 13, apologised for what he was about to do and proceeded to attack Cassie with a knife. She suffered a throat wound and died in hospital. A couple and their daughter witnessed the incident “from only a desk away”, the Liverpool Echo reports.

In a statement, Cassie’s family said they wanted to thank everyone who supported them: the police, Tui, victim support and family and friends.

The family also welcomed Tui’s decision to reopen the Southport store on March 19 after a refurbishment, adding: “Cassie loved her job, her customers and her colleagues. The store is where she laughed and smiled. We would like Cassie’s amazing personality to remain a treasured memory at the Southport store.”