
Sorrell Leczkowski was the daughter of Samantha Leczkowski and the sister of Sebastian and Sophie.373 Sorrell was 14 years old at the time of her death on 22nd May 2017.374
Sorrell was a happy, positive and caring girl.375 She would “light up the room as she entered, singing and dancing”.376 Her independent spirit emerged from an early age.377 I heard of her powers of persuasion, even from the age of two, her sarcastic wit and her no‑nonsense approach to life.378
Sorrell had a large, but close friendship group at school.379 Samantha agreed with the deputy head’s assessment that Sorrell was “the roots and trunk and her friendships were the branches”.380 She held everyone together and was a natural leader.381
Sorrell’s family all adored her.382 She was family orientated and loved it when everyone came together.383 Her family recall many happy memories together on holidays and days out.384 She spent a lot of time with her grandparents learning to cook, doing craft projects on her nana’s kitchen table and laughing at her grandad’s “silly jokes”.385
Sorrell was creative, talented and ambitious.386 She had a clear plan for her future.387 Her heart was set on an eight‑year course in architecture at Columbia University in New York. She was unafraid of all the hard work that lay ahead.388 Sorrell was so certain of the path she would follow that she told her mother they would celebrate her 60th birthday together in New York.389 Sorrell was awarded a posthumous honorary membership of the Barnard and Columbia Architecture Society, in light of her achievements.390
Sorrell’s mother was so proud of Sorrell, whom she regarded not only as her daughter but also her best friend.391 Sorrell considered her mum to be her “rock”.392 Sorrell should have had a “long, fun-filled life ahead of her”393 and, with her drive and determination, would have achieved so much.
Events of 22nd May 2017
Sorrell had attended the Arena with her mum and nana Pauline, to drop off her sister Sophie and her friend for the concert.394 Sorrell then went into Manchester with her mum and nana. They shopped and had dinner together before returning to the car to wait for the concert to draw to an end.395 While in the car, Sorrell helped Pauline and Samantha play a word game.396
They entered the City Room at 22:17:56, where they waited for Sorrell’s sister and her friend.397 Pauline and Samantha recall how Sorrell was singing, dancing and making them laugh.398