A SOUTHAMPTON mother who was murdered by her childhood sweetheart will be remembered today – exactly a decade after she was killed.

Hollie Green was strangled to death at her home in Lordswood in August 2008, aged 21.

Her killer, ex-boyfriend Daniel Gibbons, a former Totton and Eling footballer, was jailed for life after he was found guilty of her murder.

Ten years on, family and friends will pay tribute to Hollie, a former Oaklands School student who worked as a manager at Specsavers in Shirley before her death.

They will meet at Hollybrook Cemetery today, where they will celebrate her life and hold a balloon release in her memory.

Her mother Teresa Green said the event, due to start at 3pm, was 'open to all'.

She said: "Ten years ago Hollie was tragically taken from us with no time to say goodbye.

"It's been and still is an unbelievable pain no one should have to go through.

"You are forever in our hearts and you will always stay until we meet again one day."

Hollie was killed on August 31, 2008, when Gibbons confronted her at her home in Taranto Road, Lordswood.

A jury at the time heard Hollie, who had mothered a child with Gibbons, had sent him a text telling him to leave her alone following their break-up.

She'd also described him as a “loser” prior to the confrontation.

Gibbons was said to have locked Hollie in the flat during the argument, leaving her friends desperately attempting to get into the flat.

A court heard how, during the argument, the carpenter put two hands around Hollie's neck and strangled her to death.

Gibbons admitted manslaughter, but was found guilty of murder by a jury following a two week trial.

Sentencing Gibbons to a minimum of 13 years behind bars, Judge Guy Boney GC said: "You took her life, ruined your own and wrecked the life of your daughter by depriving her of being brought up by her parents.”