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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50560623
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Amy Parsons murder: Roderick Deakin-White jailed for 17 years | Amy Parsons murder: Roderick Deakin-White jailed for 17 years |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man who beat his fiancée to death when he was "unwilling to accept" her decision to leave him amid a row over his cross-dressing has been jailed. | A man who beat his fiancée to death when he was "unwilling to accept" her decision to leave him amid a row over his cross-dressing has been jailed. |
Roderick Deakin-White used a metal bar to launch a "savage" attack on Amy Parsons while she was showering at their Whitechapel flat in April. | Roderick Deakin-White used a metal bar to launch a "savage" attack on Amy Parsons while she was showering at their Whitechapel flat in April. |
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 17 years. | He was convicted of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 17 years. |
Ms Parsons' sister Eve said the term "does not do her justice" and the family would appeal. | Ms Parsons' sister Eve said the term "does not do her justice" and the family would appeal. |
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Ms Parsons had become increasingly unhappy with her relationship, particularly due to Deakin-White's cross-dressing interest. | Snaresbrook Crown Court heard Ms Parsons had become increasingly unhappy with her relationship, particularly due to Deakin-White's cross-dressing interest. |
Prosecutor Gareth Patterson QC said: "She was unhappy about this and this was something he had often wanted to do when they were intimate." | Prosecutor Gareth Patterson QC said: "She was unhappy about this and this was something he had often wanted to do when they were intimate." |
Judge John Lafferty, sentencing, said Deakin-White killed Ms Parsons in a "most horrendous, savage and brutal way". | Judge John Lafferty, sentencing, said Deakin-White killed Ms Parsons in a "most horrendous, savage and brutal way". |
He told jurors Deakin-White became angry and jealous after Ms Parsons began a relationship with a colleague a few weeks before the killing. | He told jurors Deakin-White became angry and jealous after Ms Parsons began a relationship with a colleague a few weeks before the killing. |
Mr Patterson added: "Unwilling to accept that she was going to leave him, he used a metal bar to hit her repeatedly around the head while she was showering." | Mr Patterson added: "Unwilling to accept that she was going to leave him, he used a metal bar to hit her repeatedly around the head while she was showering." |
Deakin-White fled the flat before confessing to a man in Edmonton, who persuaded him to hand himself in. | Deakin-White fled the flat before confessing to a man in Edmonton, who persuaded him to hand himself in. |
In police interviews Deakin-White admitted attacking the 35-year-old with a metal bar but denied murder, claiming it was an "accident". | In police interviews Deakin-White admitted attacking the 35-year-old with a metal bar but denied murder, claiming it was an "accident". |
'Bright light' | 'Bright light' |
At his sentencing, Ms Parsons' sister Eve spoke of her family's grief and described her as the "bright light" of the family and a "beautiful person". | |
"Nothing could have prepared me to deal with this loss," she said. "All of our family are as heartbroken as it is possible to be." | "Nothing could have prepared me to deal with this loss," she said. "All of our family are as heartbroken as it is possible to be." |
Judge Lafferty told the 38-year-old killer: "Your view was that if you can't have her, no-one can have her, and you killed her. | Judge Lafferty told the 38-year-old killer: "Your view was that if you can't have her, no-one can have her, and you killed her. |
"There is no sentence I can pass upon you today that will bring back Miss Parsons - a young, successful, vivacious and kind-hearted young woman, whose life was brutally taken by you." | "There is no sentence I can pass upon you today that will bring back Miss Parsons - a young, successful, vivacious and kind-hearted young woman, whose life was brutally taken by you." |
Speaking after the hearing, Eve Parsons, 40, said her family was "disappointed" by the length of the jail term and would be lodging an appeal. | Speaking after the hearing, Eve Parsons, 40, said her family was "disappointed" by the length of the jail term and would be lodging an appeal. |
"Seventeen years does not do her justice," she added. | "Seventeen years does not do her justice," she added. |