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| Megan Bills: Ashley Foster jailed for life for murder | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who strangled a 17-year-old girl and hid her body in a clingfilm-wrapped wardrobe, hours after meeting her, has been jailed for her murder. | |
| Ashley Foster, 24, used his shirt to strangle Megan Bills and left her body to decompose for 18 days at an ex-offenders' hostel in the West Midlands. | |
| He had been released from prison three days before the killing. | He had been released from prison three days before the killing. |
| Foster was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 26 years behind bars. | |
| During the trial, he admitted preventing Megan's lawful burial but denied murder. | |
| Midlands Live: Carillion apprentices told to stay away; Cricketer denies rape | Midlands Live: Carillion apprentices told to stay away; Cricketer denies rape |
| Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Foster told his mother in a letter that he had concealed the teenager's body after accidentally throttling her during consensual sex. | |
| Examination of Foster's mobile phones showed he had made numerous searches relating to strangulation and schoolgirls in the days after the murder in Brierley Hill on Easter Sunday last year. | Examination of Foster's mobile phones showed he had made numerous searches relating to strangulation and schoolgirls in the days after the murder in Brierley Hill on Easter Sunday last year. |
| Police said officers recovered Meghan's clothing, which Foster had disposed of in a bin, along with a torn shirt stained with her blood. | Police said officers recovered Meghan's clothing, which Foster had disposed of in a bin, along with a torn shirt stained with her blood. |
| Megan's body was found at the New Path of Life hostel by staff who had inspected Foster's room after reports of a smell, which Foster claimed was from the carpets. | Megan's body was found at the New Path of Life hostel by staff who had inspected Foster's room after reports of a smell, which Foster claimed was from the carpets. |
| Foster came to the hostel, which provides housing for former offenders, days after being released from prison. | Foster came to the hostel, which provides housing for former offenders, days after being released from prison. |
| He had been convicted on 28 November 2016 of battery and witness intimidation after an incident where he picked up a carving knife and and threatened to kill his sister. | He had been convicted on 28 November 2016 of battery and witness intimidation after an incident where he picked up a carving knife and and threatened to kill his sister. |
| CCTV footage of Megan's final movements shows her leaving the hostel with Foster to go to a local shop before returning to his room at about 15:35 GMT on 16 April 2017. | CCTV footage of Megan's final movements shows her leaving the hostel with Foster to go to a local shop before returning to his room at about 15:35 GMT on 16 April 2017. |
| The jury were told she was not seen leaving the room and there is no other reliable evidence of her ever being seen alive again. | The jury were told she was not seen leaving the room and there is no other reliable evidence of her ever being seen alive again. |
| Megan's body was wrapped in a curtain inside the wardrobe and was identified through dental records, but was so badly decomposed that a post-mortem examination failed to establish how she died. | Megan's body was wrapped in a curtain inside the wardrobe and was identified through dental records, but was so badly decomposed that a post-mortem examination failed to establish how she died. |
| Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said: "If the defendant's purpose was to ensure that it would be as difficult as it could possibly be to work out how she died, he certainly achieved that aim." | Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said: "If the defendant's purpose was to ensure that it would be as difficult as it could possibly be to work out how she died, he certainly achieved that aim." |
| He told jurors Foster had "seemed his normal self" as he enjoyed a roast dinner in the aftermath of the murder and said he had smirked at a relative when asked why he needed to buy clingfilm. | He told jurors Foster had "seemed his normal self" as he enjoyed a roast dinner in the aftermath of the murder and said he had smirked at a relative when asked why he needed to buy clingfilm. |
| The court also heard a former partner of Foster said he had asked to choke her during sex but she had refused. | The court also heard a former partner of Foster said he had asked to choke her during sex but she had refused. |
| Megan was placed into foster care aged four and found a home with her adoptive parents aged seven. | Megan was placed into foster care aged four and found a home with her adoptive parents aged seven. |
| Her parents said she had gone through a "turbulent" period, and had left the family home before her murder but was in the process of returning. | Her parents said she had gone through a "turbulent" period, and had left the family home before her murder but was in the process of returning. |
| Police said she was only reported missing the day after her body was found because she did not have a mobile phone and was difficult to contact. | Police said she was only reported missing the day after her body was found because she did not have a mobile phone and was difficult to contact. |
| Megan's family paid tribute to the teenager, who they described as "bubbly, caring and lively". | Megan's family paid tribute to the teenager, who they described as "bubbly, caring and lively". |
| In a statement, they said that her death is "painful beyond words" and her murder "demonstrates an evil cruelty beyond any decent comprehension". | In a statement, they said that her death is "painful beyond words" and her murder "demonstrates an evil cruelty beyond any decent comprehension". |