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Georgia Williams case: No prosecution after witness names published | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two police forces which published witness names online in the case of one of Britain's youngest whole life term killers, will not be prosecuted. | |
West Mercia and Warwickshire Police admitted putting the names of two women online in a document viewed 197 times. | |
The error related to the case against Jamie Reynolds, jailed at 23 for murdering Georgia Williams in 2013. | |
Judge Jonathan Gosling said the mistake was "careless in the extreme" but not intentional. | Judge Jonathan Gosling said the mistake was "careless in the extreme" but not intentional. |
Chief Constable David Shaw said the witnesses were named by "human error" and apologised to the women. | |
After the hearing at Stafford Crown Court one of the women said they "could have been put in a life-threatening situation". | |
More on this and other Shropshire stories | More on this and other Shropshire stories |
Judge Gosling said the two witnesses had "suffered seriously" but it was not deliberate contempt of court. | Judge Gosling said the two witnesses had "suffered seriously" but it was not deliberate contempt of court. |
The two forces had put online an independent review by Devon & Cornwall Police which was viewable for 11 days, the court heard. | |
Judge Gosling said: "The court cannot lawfully impose punishment for the breach unless those responsible are shown to have breached the order with the intention of interfering with the administration of justice." | |
Georgia Williams' mother Lynnette said: "I can't believe they aren't going to be punished just because they didn't do it on purpose. | Georgia Williams' mother Lynnette said: "I can't believe they aren't going to be punished just because they didn't do it on purpose. |
"It's complete incompetence again." | "It's complete incompetence again." |
One of the victims who cannot be named, said: "I feel let down again for the second time. | |
"I could have been in a life-threatening situation and we could have been exposed by their incompetence in printing our names." | |
During his trial, the court heard Reynolds harboured a fascination for strangulation from at least the age of 15. | |
A psychiatric assessment found he "had the potential to progress to become a serial killer". | |
During his sentencing, the court heard Reynolds tricked Georgia into going to his house for a photoshoot involving a simulated hanging. He later admitted killing her. | |
Reynolds, who was 22 at the time of the murder, became one of the youngest in British criminal history to be sentenced to a whole life term in prison. |