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| Becky Watts murder trial judge cries as he passes sentence | Becky Watts murder trial judge cries as he passes sentence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The judge sentencing the couple who killed Becky Watts cried as he paid tribute to the dignity of the teenager’s family, who were forced to endure a long trial that relived the gruesome details of her murder and dismemberment. | The judge sentencing the couple who killed Becky Watts cried as he paid tribute to the dignity of the teenager’s family, who were forced to endure a long trial that relived the gruesome details of her murder and dismemberment. |
| In an unusually emotional sentencing, Mr Justice Dingemans had to stop speaking briefly and compose himself as he ruled that Nathan Matthews, Becky’s stepbrother and murderer, would serve at least 33 years behind bars. | In an unusually emotional sentencing, Mr Justice Dingemans had to stop speaking briefly and compose himself as he ruled that Nathan Matthews, Becky’s stepbrother and murderer, would serve at least 33 years behind bars. |
| He added that Shauna Hoare, Matthews’ girlfriend, would be imprisoned for 17 years for the manslaughter of Becky, who was suffocated in her bedroom following a violent struggle. | He added that Shauna Hoare, Matthews’ girlfriend, would be imprisoned for 17 years for the manslaughter of Becky, who was suffocated in her bedroom following a violent struggle. |
| The judge began to break down as he reached the end of his sentencing remarks. He said: “Finally I should like to pay public tribute to the family of Becky for the dignified way in which they have conducted themselves throughout these proceedings.” | The judge began to break down as he reached the end of his sentencing remarks. He said: “Finally I should like to pay public tribute to the family of Becky for the dignified way in which they have conducted themselves throughout these proceedings.” |
| His voice trembled as he continued: “Hearing the evidence during the trial has been difficult for anyone but it is plain that it has been an immense burden for the family.” There appeared to be tears in his eyes and he was clearly struggling to get his final words out. He then rose and quickly left the court. | His voice trembled as he continued: “Hearing the evidence during the trial has been difficult for anyone but it is plain that it has been an immense burden for the family.” There appeared to be tears in his eyes and he was clearly struggling to get his final words out. He then rose and quickly left the court. |
| Born in 1964, Oxford-educated Dingemans is a presiding judge of the western circuit. As a barrister he has appeared in cases involving constitutional issues, international arbitrations representing developing countries, public inquiries and catastrophic injury cases. | Born in 1964, Oxford-educated Dingemans is a presiding judge of the western circuit. As a barrister he has appeared in cases involving constitutional issues, international arbitrations representing developing countries, public inquiries and catastrophic injury cases. |
| One of his most high-profile jobs was as QC for the Hutton inquiry, which investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of David Kelly, the biological warfare expert and former UN weapons inspector in Iraq. He was chairman of the international committee of the Bar Council from 2009 to 2012 and a member of the executive committee of the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association. Dingemans has a son aged 21 and two daughters aged 23 and 18. | |
| Reacting to the sentences, the senior investigating officer, DS Mike Courtiour, said: “Nothing will ever fill the void left by Becky’s murder but I hope the sentences passed down today will bring some comfort to her family, and the wider community who have been affected by these horrific events. | Reacting to the sentences, the senior investigating officer, DS Mike Courtiour, said: “Nothing will ever fill the void left by Becky’s murder but I hope the sentences passed down today will bring some comfort to her family, and the wider community who have been affected by these horrific events. |
| “Matthews and Hoare have never shown any remorse for their grotesque actions and today’s sentence reflects their refusal to take full responsibility for their callous crimes. Our thoughts remain with Becky’s families and friends who have suffered unimaginable pain and distress over the past nine months.” | “Matthews and Hoare have never shown any remorse for their grotesque actions and today’s sentence reflects their refusal to take full responsibility for their callous crimes. Our thoughts remain with Becky’s families and friends who have suffered unimaginable pain and distress over the past nine months.” |
| The prosecution at Bristol crown court said the pair had a sexual fixation with petite girls and had discussed the idea of kidnapping a teenager before they hatched a plan to abduct Becky. | The prosecution at Bristol crown court said the pair had a sexual fixation with petite girls and had discussed the idea of kidnapping a teenager before they hatched a plan to abduct Becky. |
| Following the killing the pair took Becky’s body to their own home, dismembered it, packed the remains in plastic and salt and hid them in a garden shed. | Following the killing the pair took Becky’s body to their own home, dismembered it, packed the remains in plastic and salt and hid them in a garden shed. |
| Dingemans described the crime as “cruel and unusual”. He said Matthews, a 28-year-old former army reservist, was arrogant and controlling. Matthews looked at “borderline legal” pornography almost daily and had discussed kidnapping pretty schoolgirls with Hoare. The judge said Matthews was “fixated” with having sex with teenage girls like Becky. | Dingemans described the crime as “cruel and unusual”. He said Matthews, a 28-year-old former army reservist, was arrogant and controlling. Matthews looked at “borderline legal” pornography almost daily and had discussed kidnapping pretty schoolgirls with Hoare. The judge said Matthews was “fixated” with having sex with teenage girls like Becky. |
| He said: “I am sure that the planned kidnap of Becky was for a sexual purpose.” He said he was sure they had taken at least one stun gun to subdue Becky and tape to restrain her. | He said: “I am sure that the planned kidnap of Becky was for a sexual purpose.” He said he was sure they had taken at least one stun gun to subdue Becky and tape to restrain her. |
| The judge said that although Becky was a child and her murder was sexual, he did not believe the crime justified a full life term for Matthews. | The judge said that although Becky was a child and her murder was sexual, he did not believe the crime justified a full life term for Matthews. |
| It can also be revealed that Hoare, 21, was raped in Bristol on her way to school when she was 13 – before she knew Matthews. | It can also be revealed that Hoare, 21, was raped in Bristol on her way to school when she was 13 – before she knew Matthews. |