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Thread: Murders Abroad

  1. #1031
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    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
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    Robert Cerqua jailed for life for murdering twin brother



    A man has been jailed for life for murdering his identical twin brother in a drunken argument on New Year's Eve.

    Robert Cerqua, 31, stabbed Christopher once in the stomach at the family home while their parents were upstairs.

    He fled the house in Hythe, Hampshire, without his shoes and carried on drinking with his girlfriend to see in the new year at a party.

    Cerqua, who denied murder at Winchester Crown Court, must serve a minimum of 13 years in prison.

    During sentencing, the court heard plasterer Robert had served previous prison sentences for offences of battery and affray relating to domestic incidents involving his former partners.

    He also had previous convictions for motoring offences and criminal damage.

    The jury returned a majority 10 to 2 guilty verdict on Monday.

    During the trial, Robert claimed self-defence after his brother had been threatening him with a knife, but the prosecution said the stabbing had happened in a fit of temper after alcohol had been consumed.

    It was explained to the jury DNA found on the knife matched both the defendant and his brother because, as identical twins, they shared the same DNA profile.



    Sentencing, Mr Justice Teare said: "You grew up with your brother and from time to time worked with him in the building trade. When you were both sober, it seems you got on well.

    "But when each of you had too much alcohol, there was a risk an argument might break out leading to violence. That had happened before and it happened on New Year's Eve."

    Denise Cerqua, the twins' mother, was in the house at the time and dialled 999.

    At first she asked for the police because her sons were fighting but then said: "Can you get an ambulance as well? He's been stabbed."

    Robert fled the house and continued drinking at a party where he saw in the new year.

    He turned off his mobile phone but was traced by police and arrested in the early hours of New Year's Day.

    He later told police that he had a "fiery relationship" with his brother and drink could make him "nasty" and "short-tempered."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-29702899
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
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    Stephen Butterworth murder: David Dempsey jailed for life



    A drug addict has been jailed for life after stabbing a widower to death in his own home.

    David Dempsey, 43, was found guilty of murdering Stephen Butterworth, 63, on Diamond Street in Leigh, Wigan, in August last year.

    Dempsey had visited Mr Butterworth to sell him a gold watch, but later returned and knifed him twice in his front and twice in his back.

    He then stole a wallet containing £400 and fled. His victim, whose wife had died two months earlier, suffered a collapsed lung. He passed away in hospital the following month, on September 27.

    Dempsey, of Kernishaw Nook, Astley, had first targeted the widower to sell him stolen goods.

    He was arrested after the brutal attack and was found guilty of murder on Wednesday following a re-trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

    He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison.

    Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe said: "Stephen's wife had sadly died in June prior to this attack and it was after this that Dempsey began preying on Mr Butterworth.

    "Dempsey targeted him while he was grieving and would go to him to sell stolen items that he wanted to get rid of.

    "He discovered that Mr Butterworth had a substantial amount of cash at his home and it was this that led him back to his house that day.

    "He saw it as an opportunity to steal cash to feed his drug addiction.

    "Dempsey went on to brutally attack Mr Butterworth in his own home.

    "This has been an extremely difficult time for Stephen’s family and friends and our thoughts remain with them."

    http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ct-who-7980969 (Mr Justice Holroyde)
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
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    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
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    River Taff murder: Gareth Wyn Jones jailed for life



    A heroin addict who murdered a "troubled" man just days after he had been released from prison has been jailed for life.

    Gareth Wyn Jones was found guilty of murdering vulnerable alcoholic David Alun Lewis, whose body was found face down in the River Taff in Cardiff on March 19.

    He had suffered 80 blunt force injuries to his head and a further 20 to his neck. There were signs he had been strangled.

    Jones was told he would serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

    Jones had seen Mr Lewis withdraw £50 earlier in the evening. After killing the keen musician from Ystrad Mynach, 28-year-old Jones then used bloodstained money to pay for heroin.

    Evidence was produced during Jones' trial at Cardiff Crown Court showing he had attempted to withdraw money with his victim's bank card but failed because he did not know the correct PIN code.

    The pair had met for the first time at the Huggard Centre for the homeless in Cardiff on the night Jones killed Mr Lewis.

    The judge said Jones had "deliberately befriended" Mr Lewis.

    Jones, who had fantasised about killing someone before, had previously served a six-year sentence for stabbing his girlfriend in the head with a fork.

    Prosecution counsel Vincent Coughlin QC said Jones picked out Mr Lewis as easy prey and said it was a "calculated killing."

    Jones had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. But after more than five hours of deliberations a jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict.

    Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said: “Only you know exactly what happened on that desolate embankment.

    "This was a sustained and brutal attack upon a man whose vulnerability was apparent to those who had seen him earlier that evening."

    Mr Lewis was described as "vulnerable, fairly quiet and a bit of a loner" and who had battled anxiety, depression and alcohol.

    His body was found underneath the Taff Embankment Bridge in Penarth Road.

    Mr Coughlin said CCTV showed the defendant walking away afterwards as if "nothing had happened."

    He returned to a different hostel and boasted of what he had done but his claims were not believed.

    Following the killing, the court heard, Jones had thrown away his bloodstained clothing before feigning illness and being taken to hospital.

    Jones, who has been on remand at Liverpool’s maximum security psychiatric hospital Ashworth, had claimed he had been hearing voices on the day in question.

    He did not attend court but was able to see proceedings by video link.

    He chose not to witness his verdict or sentencing.

    Forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph said while Jones had severe borderline personality disorder he was convinced the defendant had never suffered "true auditory hallucinations."

    The prosecution said Jones would have been well-placed to make up symptoms "to suit his own ends."

    He had begun offending aged 16 and had a childhood which the judge said could "properly be described as traumatic."

    She said after Jones was released from prison without a fixed address he became increasingly "anxious and agitated."

    The judge said she was worried he would mix with drug dealers while homeless and that could lead him to relapse.

    She said it was a “concerning situation” but it was not for the court to ask how that came about.

    She paid tribute to Mr Lewis's family who were in court for sentencing and offered them her personal condolences.

    She also praised the officers from South Wales Police who investigated the case calling their work "thorough and competent."

    Following the sentencing a statement was read by Glyn Lewis, the victim's father.

    He was joined on the steps of the court by his wife Hetty and other family members.

    Mr Lewis said: "We are still shocked to the core by his death, which has left a huge whole in our lives. He will never be forgotten."

    He thanked a witness who went to police to tell them about their son's "tragic situation" on the day he was killed.

    He also thanked the police and all those involved in finding, charging and convicting Jones.

    “We are very satisfied with the outcome of the trial and the jury's verdict.

    "Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved," he said.

    Detective Chief Inspector Kath Pritchard, of South Wales Police, said Mr Lewis’ murder was a "particularly tragic incident which left people extremely shocked."

    "We are truly grateful for all those who came forward with information," she said.

    Det Ch Insp Pritchard said she hoped Jones's conviction would "reassure the public" that those who prey on the vulnerable will be caught.

    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...th-wyn-7985024
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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    Emma Siswick murder: Jonathan Sutton jailed for life



    A "paranoid and controlling" former policeman has been jailed for life for murdering his pregnant partner, stabbing her 81 times.

    Emma Siswick, 37, was found at a house in Huddersfield with wounds from a knife and broken glass on 18 May.

    Jonathan Sutton, 40, admitted murder. He also pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to wounding two boys with intent at the property.

    The children were treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

    The court heard Sutton had been a police officer with West Yorkshire Police between May 2003 and November 2004.

    The judge, Mr Justice Edis, said Sutton's offences were "as serious as it's possible to imagine."

    "Looking at the photographs of the house where all this happened is a truly horrific experience," he said.

    "There are three different sites in that property where very serious assaults with knives were carried out.

    "There's blood everywhere. You inflicted 81 separate cut injuries to Emma. She fought you to try to save herself."

    The judge also said there had been "irreparable harm to those still alive after the incident."

    He said it had left the children "with physical scars that they will see every day of their lives", adding: "One can only speculate about the mental scars which they will be left with."

    Jailing Sutton for life, the judge described the former officer as a significant risk to the public and said he must serve a minimum of 28 years in prison.

    Bryan Cox QC, prosecuting, said the boys' injuries would have a "profound and lasting effect on their lives."

    Detective Chief Inspector Adrian Taylor said police had been called to the property at 21:30 BST on 18 May to reports of a continuing domestic incident.

    He said: "What we found there was much worse - a 37-year-old woman had been killed and two children had suffered serious stab wounds.

    "We may never know the reasons why he carried out this brutal attack but we welcome this guilty plea for Emma and the two young children he seriously assaulted.

    "We hope that her family can now start to rebuild their lives and move on from this horrific incident."

    A spokesperson for Ms Siswick's family said: "We would like to thank all her family and friends for their unwavering support throughout this devastating time."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-29756188
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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    Cpl Geoffrey McNeill murder: Soldier jailed for life



    A British Army soldier has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering his comrade in an attack at their barracks.

    Lance Corporal Richard Farrell, 23, set upon Corporal Geoffrey McNeill, 32, in his room at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, Shropshire, in March.

    He inflicted "a series of heavy blows", according to prosecutor Christopher Hotten QC, breaking Cpl McNeill's neck in three places.

    At Birmingham Crown Court, Farrell, from Dublin, was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison.

    The jury returned a majority verdict against Farrell, of the Royal Irish Regiment, after 19 hours of deliberations.

    He claimed he remembered nothing of the night's events, having drunk at least a litre of Disaronno liqueur and after having been punched by Cpl McNeill, 32, of County Antrim, in a pub in Market Drayton earlier in the evening.

    Passing sentence, Judge Melbourne Inman QC said of that claim: "Whether that is the truth, only you will know."

    Farrell told jurors he went to make amends with Cpl McNeill, but instead discovered his body in his room, blue and cold to the touch.

    He said he tried to revive Cpl McNeill, who was educated in Blackpool, after discovering his body underneath a bed.


    Cpl Geoffrey McNeill

    Judge Inman told Farrell he had carried out a "very severe assault" on the Afghanistan conflict veteran, but that was not how he killed him.

    "You killed him by sustained pressure to his neck with either a ligature or manually, like some form of arm hold," he said.

    In the course of the strangulation, the judge added, a post-mortem examination revealed Cpl McNeill had dug his fingernails so hard into his own neck in a bid to break whatever hold was on him, it had left marks.

    A medical examination revealed Cpl McNeill had suffered "very severe blunt force" to his abdomen, "significant blows" to his face and at least one blow to his testicles, together with a badly broken neck.

    Farrell had told the court he grabbed his comrade's testicles to check if he was conscious.

    The jury agreed with the Crown's case that Cpl McNeill was murdered by Farrell in the early hours of 8 March.

    Judge Inman said: "I am satisfied that there is no sensible possibility you went looking for Mr McNeill for purely peaceful reasons and only reacted with such violence as a result of something that passed between you."

    The judge said he was satisfied Farrell "intended to kill" and, while there was "no justification" for the victim having punched him earlier that night, the incident offered no provocation for the subsequent killing.

    He also said it was clear Cpl McNeill was "obviously a hugely well liked and respected soldier."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29834739
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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    Killer Jamie Reynolds loses sentence appeal



    A man who killed a teenage girl by hanging her at his parents' house has lost his appeal against his whole life sentence.

    Jamie Reynolds, 23, was told he would spend the rest of his life behind bars when he was sentenced in December for the murder of Georgia Williams.

    Georgia, 17, went missing from her home in Shropshire on 26 May 2013.

    Her body was found in woodland off the Nant-y-Garth pass near Wrexham four days later.

    The Court of Appeal ruled there was "no basis on which it can properly be argued that a whole-life order was not required."

    The punishment handed out for the "horrific" murder was "just", said the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas.

    Reynolds hanged the 17-year-old in a sexually motivated attack in Wellington.

    During sentencing, a psychiatric report found Reynolds had the potential to progress "to become a serial killer."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-29848131
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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    Farnham puppy farm murders: John Lowe jailed for life



    An 82-year-old man has been jailed for life for murdering his partner and her daughter who he shot at close range at his puppy farm in Surrey.

    John Lowe, who killed Christine Lee and Lucy Lee in February, was ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison.

    The jury at his Guildford Crown Court trial was told Lowe wanted the women "put down."

    Surrey Police has apologised for returning Lowe's confiscated guns to him seven months before the shooting.

    Sentencing Lowe, Mr Justice Singh praised the "extraordinary courage" of Lucy Lee after she returned to face her killer after making a frantic 999 call.

    He said that, having heard the evidence, he had come to the "clear conclusion" the 82-year-old had intended to kill both of the women.

    "You shot Lucy Lee in the back of her head after she made the 999 call, then reloaded your gun and pursued her outside the cottage, with the intention of making sure that this time she died," he said.

    In a victim impact statement Stacy Banner, Lucy Lee's sister, said she was "haunted by what Lowe has done".

    She said Lucy was the "big sister who comforted and preceded me" and the murders had left her struggling to eat and sleep.

    Outside court, she said: "I'm relieved it's over. He's never getting out."

    Ms Banner has criticised police for returning guns to Lowe just months before he carried out the shootings.

    Surrey Police has admitted the decision "was flawed and did not meet national standards."

    Three Surrey Police employees are being investigated for gross misconduct by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over the decision to return the weapons.

    Christine Lee's sister, Julia James, said she felt "despair, physically and emotionally" since the death of her two relatives.

    "I miss them more than I can say," she said.

    At the start of the hearing, prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said Lowe's advanced age should not "dramatically" reduce his sentence and the "starting point" for a double murder of this kind would be a minimum of 30 years in jail.

    Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner Kevin Hurley said as the trial was now over the inquiry could focus on why Lowe was given back his guns.

    Factors which would be investigated included whether the decision had been made because of "human error by negligence, as a genuine mistake, or as a result of funding cuts to backroom staff", he said.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-29852794






    R v JOHN LOWE

    IN THE CROWN COURT AT GUILDFORD

    31 OCTOBER 2014

    SENTENCING REMARKS OF THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE SINGH


    You have been convicted by the jury of the murder of Christine Lee and Lucy Lee on 23 February 2014 at Keepers Cottage Stud near Farnham in Surrey. You have also been convicted of the possession of a firearm (a shotgun) with intent to endanger life.

    You are and were at the time 82 years of age and a man of previous good character. You lived at the cottage for some 45 years and had been in the business of breeding dogs and dealing in horses as well as other work. Your partner of many years died in the spring of last year and this clearly had a traumatic effect on you.

    You had known Christine Lee (aged 66) for some 25 years and had had a relationship with her on and off during that time. After the death of your partner, Christine Lee felt sorry for you and wanted to come to your cottage to look after you. She moved to the cottage in September last year and was staying there in February this year. Her daughter Lucy Lee (aged 41) was also staying from time to time at the cottage to help her mother and to help you look after the animals at your property.

    You are a man well used to handling and firing shotguns. You had a licence to keep the shotgun in question.

    On the morning of Sunday 23 February you lost your temper and took your shotgun out of its locked cabinet and used it to kill Christine Lee. She died of a single shotgun wound to the chest fired at close range at an angle from above. Lucy Lee was able to use her mobile phone to make a frantic and desperate call to the emergency services on 999. She said that you had shot her mum and that she feared that you were going to shoot her as well.

    Nevertheless, in an act of extraordinary courage, she went back; no doubt to see if there was anything she could do to help her mother. You then used the shotgun to shoot her twice, once to the back of the head and then fatally to the chest, again from an angle from above. In the meantime you must have had to reload your weapon because it had two barrels.

    You then set about doing what you had planned to do all along, which was to put down four dogs at the premises.

    I have taken into account the personal impact statements from Christine Lee's sister Julia and her daughter Stacey, in so far as they were read in court. It is clear that the murders of Christine and Lucy Lee have had a terrible and continuing impact on them and the other members of the family.

    I will deal first with Count 3, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The maximum sentence for this offence is life imprisonment. In the circumstances of this case I consider that the appropriate sentence is 10 years imprisonment and that sentence will be concurrent to the minimum terms which must be imposed for the two offences of murder in Counts 1 and 2.

    Turning to Counts 1 and 2, there is only one sentence which the law permits me to pass upon you: that is a sentence of life imprisonment. I am required to specify the minimum term which you must serve before you can be considered for release on licence by the Parole Board.

    In setting the minimum term I must have regard to the provisions of Schedule 21 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003, in particular paragraph 5. Where the court considers (as I do in the present case) that the seriousness of the offence (or the combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it) is particularly high, the appropriate starting point in determining the minimum term is 30 years. As paragraph 5(2) makes clear, cases that would normally fall within the category whose seriousness is particularly high include:

    (b) a murder involving the use of a firearm; and
    (f) the murder of two or more persons.

    I also have to have regard to any aggravating or mitigating factors to the extent I have not already allowed for them in the choice of the starting point.

    I make it clear for the avoidance of doubt that I do not regard paragraph 11(a) as being relevant in the present case as a potential mitigating factor. It was accepted on your behalf that it was not relevant. Having heard the evidence at your trial, I have come to the clear conclusion that you did have an intention to kill both Christine Lee and Lucy Lee rather than to cause them serious bodily harm. I form that view because of the close range with which you used the shotgun firing at their chests. I also form that view because in statements which you made to the police after the incident you said that you had had to "put them down."

    The presence of an intention to kill is not in itself an aggravating factor. However, in my view, your actions went beyond that in this case and had certain aggravating features. On the evidence heard at the trial I have formed the view that, having killed Christine Lee, you then shot Lucy Lee in the back of her head after she had made the 999 call, then reloaded your gun and pursued her outside the cottage, with the intention of making sure that this time she died.

    By virtue of paragraph 11 of Schedule 21, the mitigating factors which may be relevant in the present case include:

    (b) lack of pre-meditation;
    (d) the fact that the offender was provoked (for example by prolonged stress); and
    (g) the age of the offender.

    I accept that there was no pre-meditation in this case and take that into account.

    I also accept that there were features in the background to the events in this case which need to be taken into account as tending to explain, but not justify, your loss of temper on 23 February. There was evidence at the trial, particularly from Mr Baddeley, whose statement was read, and the evidence of Mr Richardson, the partner of Lucy Lee and who was called by the Prosecution, to the effect that you felt that you were being controlled in what you could do, and that you felt frustrated and agitated as a consequence.

    I turn to the question of your age. In this context I have been referred to several decisions of the Court of Appeal: R v Walker [2005] EWCA Crim 82; R v Archer [2007] EWCA Crim 536; R v Symmons [2009] EWCA Crim 1304; and R v Troughton [2012] EWCA Crim 1520. I have also considered the recent decision in R v Sampford [2014] EWCA Crim 1560.

    It was common ground before me that the position was accurately summarised as follows at paragraph 15 of the judgment in Sampford:

    "…clearly age is a mitigating factor. It is a statutory mitigating factor, as is apparent from schedule 21 paragraph 11(g) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Advanced age will be relevant in a sentencing exercise such as the one facing [the Judge]. The schedule establishes that, as does Troughton and the other cases cited in Troughton. Neither Troughton nor any other case, nor the schedule, suggests that a court has to do what it can to ensure that a defendant does not die in prison. If nothing else, no court would be in a position to conduct the necessary actuarial exercise. Even if it were, it would not override the requirement of the sentencer to reflect the circumstances of the killing in setting the minimum term. If those circumstances require a minimum which may result in the offender dying in prison, then that will be the minimum term."

    In my view the gravity of the offences committed by you in this case needs to be properly reflected in the minimum term imposed while taking into account your old age.

    I have taken into account everything else that has been said on your behalf in mitigation. In particular it is clear that you have many health problems and that you had experienced personal and financial difficulties in the last few years before these tragic events. I have also read and considered the character references that have been placed before the court.

    I make it clear that I have not had regard to anything that was not in evidence at your trial or otherwise placed before me by either of the parties.

    The minimum term you will serve will have the number of days you have spent on remand deducted: on the information before me that is 248 days.

    The legislation on surcharges applies to this case and an order will be drawn up accordingly.

    John Lowe, the sentence of the court is 10 years imprisonment on Count 3, to be served concurrently with the other sentences. The sentence of the court is life imprisonment on Counts 1 and 2, also concurrent. The minimum term that you will serve is 25 years.

    I would like to thank all counsel for their assistance.

    I would also like to express my sympathies to the family of Christine Lee and Lucy Lee for their sad loss.
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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    Linda Lietaviete murder: Alvin Santos jailed for life



    A man has been jailed for life for murdering a 16-year-old business student in Bournemouth.

    Alvin Santos, 26, was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years in prison after a Winchester Crown Court jury found him guilty on Friday.

    Linda Lietaviete was killed on 12 December and was found partially clothed with seven stab wounds to her chest at Horseshoe Common.

    The student had arranged to meet Santos the night before.

    Blood tests showed Santos had taken methylone, an illegal drug which has similar effects to amphetamines or ecstasy, at some time in the previous 24 hours.

    In a statement, Linda's family said: "From the moment we were told by police that she had been killed, the life of our family changed forever.

    "Linda was only 16 at the time of her death and had her whole life ahead of her.

    "She was a conscientious and caring girl and would always be thinking about her family.

    "Our family grieves for Linda on a daily basis."

    The family thanked Dorset Police, ambulance staff and the Crown Prosecution Service.

    On the night of her murder, Santos said he had been drinking and chatting with Linda, a Latvian student, but had become "furious" when she told him she was responsible for him being assaulted in 2010.

    He admitted stabbing Linda but said he had "blacked out" during the attack.

    His sister Catherine alerted the authorities after he told her he had stabbed someone and she saw blood on his hands.

    Detective Inspector Marcus Hester, of Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said Linda had been the victim of a "violent and sustained attack."

    "Linda was highly regarded by her family and college and had many friends. She was a hard-working and loved girl whose life was cut tragically short by the actions of an older man," he said.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-29880678 (Mr Justice Teare)
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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    Ann Maguire murder: Will Cornick jailed for life



    A 16-year-old boy has been jailed for life after he admitted murdering Leeds teacher Ann Maguire.

    Spanish teacher Mrs Maguire, 61, was attacked at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds in April.

    Will Cornick stabbed his teacher in the neck and chased her out of the room before sitting back at his desk and saying "good times."

    Mrs Maguire's family said in a statement they were "looking to the future with a fragile hope."

    Cornick was told he will serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

    The defendant stood flanked by two prison officers in the dock as the court clerk read out the charge.

    He looked straight ahead and showed no emotion as he admitted murdering Mrs Maguire.

    Passing sentence at Leeds Crown Court, Mr Justice Coulson said it was "quite possible" that the boy would never be released.

    He said Cornick had shown a "total and chilling lack of remorse."



    Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting, told the court the boy had "psychopathic tendencies" and had derived pleasure from the public nature of the killing, something the judge referred to as "truly grotesque."

    Mr Greaney told the court pupils had noticed disturbing aspects to the boy's personality.

    He told other children that he hated Mrs Maguire and wanted her dead, writing in a message on Facebook that she "deserves more than death, more than pain and more than anything that we can understand."

    The prosecutor said: "Late on the night of Christmas Eve 2013, and into the early hours of Christmas Day, the defendant exchanged messages with a friend on Facebook.

    "In those messages he spoke of 'brutally killing' Mrs Maguire and spending the rest of his life in jail so as not to have to worry about life or money."

    The court heard that Mrs Maguire had been leaning over her desk helping a girl with her work when the boy attacked her from behind.

    "The defendant approached his teacher and began to stab her in the neck and back," said Mr Greaney.

    "Ann Maguire was 61 years of age, 5ft 2in height and of slim build.

    "The defendant was a full foot taller and was armed with a large kitchen knife.

    "To describe his attack as cowardly hardly does it justice."



    Mr Greaney said Mrs Maguire fled but was chased by the boy, who was "stabbing her as she sought to escape."

    Mrs Maguire was stabbed seven times in her back and neck before colleague Susan Francis, alerted by children screaming, rushed her friend into a work room and held the door shut.

    Mr Greaney said: "She was able to see the boy through a glass panel in the door. His face was emotionless and he then walked away."

    Cornick, who was 15 at the time, went back to the classroom and sat down "as if nothing had happened", the prosecutor told the court.

    "He said that he had stabbed Mrs Maguire," said Mr Greaney. "He added that it was a pity she was not dead.

    "He said to the entire class 'good times' and spoke of an adrenaline rush."

    The boy told a psychiatrist after the killing that he had a "sense of pride" in killing Mrs Maguire, the court heard.

    Mr Greaney said that when the expert asked about the impact on Mrs Maguire's family, the boy replied: "I know the victim's family will be upset but I don't care.

    "In my eyes, everything I've done is fine and dandy."

    "It's kill or be killed. I did not have a choice. It was kill her or suicide."

    But the prosecutor said Cornick's actions were still "inexplicable."

    "The parents are decent people and responsible parents," he said. "They are at a loss to understand how and why their son has turned out as he has and they have co-operated fully with the police and with the prosecution.

    "It follows that this is not one of those cases in which a defendant's actions may find a degree of explanation in his family circumstances."

    Mr Greaney added that the boy's academic reports "had generally been positive."

    Sitting at the back of the dock, the teenager's parents listened intently to the details of their son's crime.

    Because of his young age, the judge and barristers did not wear their wigs and gowns during the hearing.

    In a victim statement read to the court, Mrs Maguire's husband Don described the attack on his wife as a "monumental act of cowardice and evil."

    Chief Superintendent Paul Money, of West Yorkshire Police, said no person acting in authority could have foreseen the "cold-blooded" and "cowardly" murder.

    He said: "I can't name the person responsible but he comes from a good home with decent, responsible parents."

    Mrs Maguire had worked at the school for more than 40 years and had been due to retire.

    Her sister Denise Courtenay said: "We will never recover from this pain and anguish.

    "No amount of punishment can compensate us for what we have lost."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29879865
    "I have adopted the Italian way of life... I may stab you!"
    — Heidi

    "You make the British Lion seem like a declawed, toothless, neutered fat tabby with the mange."
    — Weidmann1939

    "Maybe you think your being clever."
    — Weidmann1939

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