This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-42717649
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Megan Bills: Ashley Foster jailed for life for murder | Megan Bills: Ashley Foster jailed for life for murder |
| (about 2 hours 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The judge said Foster's conduct after the killing was "beyond belief". | The judge said Foster's conduct after the killing was "beyond belief". |
| Foster was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 26 years behind bars. | 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. | During the trial, he admitted preventing Megan's lawful burial but denied murder. |
| Foster came to the New Path of Life hostel, which provides housing for former offenders, three days after being released from prison for battery and witness intimidation. | Foster came to the New Path of Life hostel, which provides housing for former offenders, three days after being released from prison for battery and witness intimidation. |
| Megan's body was found wrapped in a curtain inside the wardrobe by hostel staff after reports of a smell and was identified through dental records. | Megan's body was found wrapped in a curtain inside the wardrobe by hostel staff after reports of a smell and was identified through dental records. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said 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. | Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said 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. |
| Judge James Burbidge QC said after the killing, Foster had celebrated his birthday as normal and boasted about his sex life. | Judge James Burbidge QC said after the killing, Foster had celebrated his birthday as normal and boasted about his sex life. |
| He said: "Megan was vulnerable. Instead of acting in a compassionate, human and decent manner, you not only failed to ring the authorities, you bundled her body in a curtain or bedding and then placed her body in a wardrobe. | He said: "Megan was vulnerable. Instead of acting in a compassionate, human and decent manner, you not only failed to ring the authorities, you bundled her body in a curtain or bedding and then placed her body in a wardrobe. |
| "You left her body there to be discovered by others. That in itself is shocking." | "You left her body there to be discovered by others. That in itself is shocking." |
| 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. |
| In a statement, Megan's family paid tribute to the teenager, who they described as "bubbly, caring and lively". | In a statement, Megan's family paid tribute to the teenager, who they described as "bubbly, caring and lively". |
| They said her death was "painful beyond words" and her murder "demonstrates an evil cruelty beyond any decent comprehension". | They said her death was "painful beyond words" and her murder "demonstrates an evil cruelty beyond any decent comprehension". |
| Anjuli Shergill, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Foster had deliberately hidden Megan's body for weeks, "so that forensic evidence would be destroyed". | Anjuli Shergill, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Foster had deliberately hidden Megan's body for weeks, "so that forensic evidence would be destroyed". |
| "Foster took Megan's life for his own sexual gratification. He continued with his life as if nothing had happened." | "Foster took Megan's life for his own sexual gratification. He continued with his life as if nothing had happened." |
| Det Insp Caroline Corfield, from West Midlands Police, said: "[Megan] was a vulnerable young lady who would never have imagined the dangerous lair she was walking into when she entered Foster's room. | Det Insp Caroline Corfield, from West Midlands Police, said: "[Megan] was a vulnerable young lady who would never have imagined the dangerous lair she was walking into when she entered Foster's room. |
| "Foster had an unnatural obsession with deviant sexual activity and he disposed of Megan's young life to satisfy his own twisted desires." | "Foster had an unnatural obsession with deviant sexual activity and he disposed of Megan's young life to satisfy his own twisted desires." |