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Russell Bishop jailed for 1986 Babes in the Wood murders | Russell Bishop jailed for 1986 Babes in the Wood murders |
(35 minutes later) | |
Convicted paedophile Russell Bishop has been jailed for life for the murders of two schoolgirls 32 years ago. | Convicted paedophile Russell Bishop has been jailed for life for the murders of two schoolgirls 32 years ago. |
The Babes in the Wood killer will serve a minimum of 36 years after being found guilty at a second trial on Monday. | The Babes in the Wood killer will serve a minimum of 36 years after being found guilty at a second trial on Monday. |
Bishop, aged 20 in 1986, killed nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in a woodland den in Brighton. | Bishop, aged 20 in 1986, killed nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in a woodland den in Brighton. |
In 1987 he was cleared of their murders, but within three years kidnapped another girl and left her for dead, the Old Bailey heard. | In 1987 he was cleared of their murders, but within three years kidnapped another girl and left her for dead, the Old Bailey heard. |
"Finally, justice has been done and Bishop has been seen as the evil monster he really is," Karen's mother Michelle Hadaway said following the verdict. | "Finally, justice has been done and Bishop has been seen as the evil monster he really is," Karen's mother Michelle Hadaway said following the verdict. |
Bishop, aged 52, who was already serving a life term for attempting to murder the seven-year-old girl at Devil's Dyke in 1990, had refused to attend court for his sentencing. | Bishop, aged 52, who was already serving a life term for attempting to murder the seven-year-old girl at Devil's Dyke in 1990, had refused to attend court for his sentencing. |
In his absence the judge Mr Justice Sweeney, described him as a "predatory paedophile" who had shown no remorse. | In his absence the judge Mr Justice Sweeney, described him as a "predatory paedophile" who had shown no remorse. |
"The terror that each girl must have suffered in their final moments is unimaginable," he said. | "The terror that each girl must have suffered in their final moments is unimaginable," he said. |
Bishop was told he would face a new trial for Karen and Nicola's killings under the double jeopardy law, after a DNA breakthrough in the case. | Bishop was told he would face a new trial for Karen and Nicola's killings under the double jeopardy law, after a DNA breakthrough in the case. |
A sweatshirt discarded on his route home linked him to the scene while a sample from Karen's left forearm revealed a "one in a billion" DNA match, the jury heard. | A sweatshirt discarded on his route home linked him to the scene while a sample from Karen's left forearm revealed a "one in a billion" DNA match, the jury heard. |
In a victim impact statement Nicola's mother, Sue Eismann, said her world "turned upside down" after Bishop killed her daughter. | In a victim impact statement Nicola's mother, Sue Eismann, said her world "turned upside down" after Bishop killed her daughter. |
"I have lived with the pain, the loss and sheer hate towards him for what he had done for the last 32 years," she said. | "I have lived with the pain, the loss and sheer hate towards him for what he had done for the last 32 years," she said. |
"Russell Bishop is a horrible, wicked man. No child is safe if he is allowed to be free." | "Russell Bishop is a horrible, wicked man. No child is safe if he is allowed to be free." |
During the trial, Bishop tried to cast suspicion on Nicola's father Barrie, who since the first trial had put up with rumours of his involvement in her death. | |
'Truly wicked' | |
"Thirty-two years is a long time to be suspected of murdering your daughter," Mr Fellows said. | |
"I have been through every feeling imaginable from hope to sheer dread. | |
"Words cannot describe how I feel about Russell Bishop." | |
Det Sup Jeff Riley, of Sussex Police, described Bishop as a "truly wicked man". | Det Sup Jeff Riley, of Sussex Police, described Bishop as a "truly wicked man". |
"Bishop will hopefully spend the remainder of his life behind bars where he truly belongs and never darken the streets of Brighton again," he said following the sentencing. | "Bishop will hopefully spend the remainder of his life behind bars where he truly belongs and never darken the streets of Brighton again," he said following the sentencing. |
"This significant term of imprisonment will of course never make up for the loss of Karen and Nicola but I hope their families will take some comfort from it." | "This significant term of imprisonment will of course never make up for the loss of Karen and Nicola but I hope their families will take some comfort from it." |