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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Michelle Hanson murder: Alexander Carr jailed for 19 years | Michelle Hanson murder: Alexander Carr jailed for 19 years |
| (3 days later) | |
| Michelle Hanson was found dead at her home on 3 December | Michelle Hanson was found dead at her home on 3 December |
| A student who went on the run after brutally murdering a grandmother has been jailed for more than 19 years. | A student who went on the run after brutally murdering a grandmother has been jailed for more than 19 years. |
| Alexander Carr, 33, stabbed Michelle Hanson 29 times in Sunderland and was arrested while living in a tent in London following an 18-day manhunt. | Alexander Carr, 33, stabbed Michelle Hanson 29 times in Sunderland and was arrested while living in a tent in London following an 18-day manhunt. |
| Mother-of-five Ms Hanson, 47, was found dead at her home in Brady Street by a family member on 3 December. | Mother-of-five Ms Hanson, 47, was found dead at her home in Brady Street by a family member on 3 December. |
| Carr was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 19 years and three months at Newcastle Crown Court. | Carr was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 19 years and three months at Newcastle Crown Court. |
| A nationwide search was launched for the University of Sunderland student after Ms Hanson's body was found. | |
| Police discovered him living in a tent on a railway embankment near Upper Holloway railway station in north London. | Police discovered him living in a tent on a railway embankment near Upper Holloway railway station in north London. |
| Murderer Alexander Carr arrested in tent after 18 days on run | Murderer Alexander Carr arrested in tent after 18 days on run |
| Murderer Alexander Carr arrested in tent after 18 days on run | Murderer Alexander Carr arrested in tent after 18 days on run |
| Prosecutor Dafydd Enoch KC told the court Ms Hanson was last seen alive on the night of 1 December. | Prosecutor Dafydd Enoch KC told the court Ms Hanson was last seen alive on the night of 1 December. |
| A family relative went to her flat and saw her with a man, later identified as Carr. | A family relative went to her flat and saw her with a man, later identified as Carr. |
| Mr Enoch said the man was "acting nuts" and talking in accents while Ms Hanson, who had been drinking, was in "very good humour". | Mr Enoch said the man was "acting nuts" and talking in accents while Ms Hanson, who had been drinking, was in "very good humour". |
| She was "laughing and cuddling" up to the man, who she appeared to be attracted to, he said. | She was "laughing and cuddling" up to the man, who she appeared to be attracted to, he said. |
| Alexander Carr admitted murdering Michelle Hanson | Alexander Carr admitted murdering Michelle Hanson |
| At about 01:20 on 2 December, Carr was seen on CCTV leaving Brady Street. Ms Hanson's body was found in her blood-spattered living room the following day. | At about 01:20 on 2 December, Carr was seen on CCTV leaving Brady Street. Ms Hanson's body was found in her blood-spattered living room the following day. |
| Mr Enoch said it was clear she had been subjected to a "vicious, violent attack" after which her killer fled through a bathroom window. | Mr Enoch said it was clear she had been subjected to a "vicious, violent attack" after which her killer fled through a bathroom window. |
| A large knife was found under Ms Hanson's body and a broken plate beside her head, with porcelain fragments in her hair. | A large knife was found under Ms Hanson's body and a broken plate beside her head, with porcelain fragments in her hair. |
| She had been stabbed 29 times in the scalp, face and neck, suffered multiple blunt force injuries and had "no opportunity to defend herself", the court heard. | She had been stabbed 29 times in the scalp, face and neck, suffered multiple blunt force injuries and had "no opportunity to defend herself", the court heard. |
| When police went to Carr's home on Wilfred Street he was not there but they found a jacket heavily stained with Ms Hanson's blood. | When police went to Carr's home on Wilfred Street he was not there but they found a jacket heavily stained with Ms Hanson's blood. |
| Michelle Hanson's family said she was kind and would help anyone | Michelle Hanson's family said she was kind and would help anyone |
| Two psychiatrists agreed he was "not suffering from any form of underlying psychotic illness" and though he had a "borderline emotional unstable personality disorder", that would not have diminished his responsibility for the killing, the court heard. | Two psychiatrists agreed he was "not suffering from any form of underlying psychotic illness" and though he had a "borderline emotional unstable personality disorder", that would not have diminished his responsibility for the killing, the court heard. |
| Mr Enoch said the killer "knew perfectly well what he had done", despite being heavily under the influence of drugs and alcohol. | Mr Enoch said the killer "knew perfectly well what he had done", despite being heavily under the influence of drugs and alcohol. |
| Carr had 29 previous convictions including multiple violent offences, such as attacking a man with a hammer in London for which he was jailed for three and a half years. | Carr had 29 previous convictions including multiple violent offences, such as attacking a man with a hammer in London for which he was jailed for three and a half years. |
| 'Evil monster' | 'Evil monster' |
| He kept his head bowed as Ms Hanson's daughter Shannon Brown and sister Angela Kelly read out emotional statements. | He kept his head bowed as Ms Hanson's daughter Shannon Brown and sister Angela Kelly read out emotional statements. |
| Ms Brown said Carr was "evil" and a "monster" who had been welcomed into the home of her "defenceless" mother. | Ms Brown said Carr was "evil" and a "monster" who had been welcomed into the home of her "defenceless" mother. |
| She said her mother was a "kind and caring woman with a huge heart, infectious smile and brilliant sense of humour". | She said her mother was a "kind and caring woman with a huge heart, infectious smile and brilliant sense of humour". |
| Ms Brown said: "She was always vulnerable to people taking advantage of her. | Ms Brown said: "She was always vulnerable to people taking advantage of her. |
| "She would never hurt anyone, even if someone did something to her she would forgive them, because she always saw the good in people." | "She would never hurt anyone, even if someone did something to her she would forgive them, because she always saw the good in people." |
| Michelle Hanson (right), pictured with her daughter Shannon Brown, was "kind and caring", the court heard | Michelle Hanson (right), pictured with her daughter Shannon Brown, was "kind and caring", the court heard |
| Nicholas Lumley KC, representing Carr, said the killer had had a history of mental health problems and was "not functioning as a normal person" at the time of the attack. | Nicholas Lumley KC, representing Carr, said the killer had had a history of mental health problems and was "not functioning as a normal person" at the time of the attack. |
| He said his client's family was "at a loss" to explain why he had killed and Carr was "shocked and devastated" by his own actions. | He said his client's family was "at a loss" to explain why he had killed and Carr was "shocked and devastated" by his own actions. |
| Mr Lumley said Carr took "full responsibility for bad lifestyle choices" which led to him "being so out of control that night". | Mr Lumley said Carr took "full responsibility for bad lifestyle choices" which led to him "being so out of control that night". |
| He said his client wished he had "tried harder to seek help rather than self-medicating" with drugs and alcohol. | He said his client wished he had "tried harder to seek help rather than self-medicating" with drugs and alcohol. |
| Michelle Hanson always saw the good in people, her family said | Michelle Hanson always saw the good in people, her family said |
| Carr's actions had been "devastating" for the victim's family who had been left "utterly heartbroken", Judge Paul Sloan KC said. | Carr's actions had been "devastating" for the victim's family who had been left "utterly heartbroken", Judge Paul Sloan KC said. |
| "All the more so knowing as they do the nature of the attack and the utter terror Ms Hanson must have suffered in the last moments of her life." | "All the more so knowing as they do the nature of the attack and the utter terror Ms Hanson must have suffered in the last moments of her life." |
| He said Carr had been smoking skunk cannabis and drinking when he visited Ms Hanson, who he knew. | He said Carr had been smoking skunk cannabis and drinking when he visited Ms Hanson, who he knew. |
| The judge said the killer became "increasingly anxious and paranoid" which culminated with the "brutal attack". | The judge said the killer became "increasingly anxious and paranoid" which culminated with the "brutal attack". |
| He said Carr had a "disturbed" childhood and had personality disorders but was "well aware of the risk" he posed to himself and others when intoxicated. | He said Carr had a "disturbed" childhood and had personality disorders but was "well aware of the risk" he posed to himself and others when intoxicated. |
| "That night you made a choice, you voluntarily consumed drink and drugs knowing the risks," the judge said, adding that Ms Hanson "should have been safe" in her own home. | "That night you made a choice, you voluntarily consumed drink and drugs knowing the risks," the judge said, adding that Ms Hanson "should have been safe" in her own home. |
| Det Ch Insp Graeme Barr of Northumbria Police said Carr had never explained why he caused such "horrific injuries" to Ms Hanson, adding: "[Carr's] an extremely dangerous individual, he really does pose a significant threat." | Det Ch Insp Graeme Barr of Northumbria Police said Carr had never explained why he caused such "horrific injuries" to Ms Hanson, adding: "[Carr's] an extremely dangerous individual, he really does pose a significant threat." |
| Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sunderland | Sunderland |