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Three guilty of murdering 'slave' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three people have been found guilty of the murder of a man whose dismembered body was found in a Bedfordshire lake. | Three people have been found guilty of the murder of a man whose dismembered body was found in a Bedfordshire lake. |
The headless body of 26-year-old Michael Gilbert was found in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey last May. | The headless body of 26-year-old Michael Gilbert was found in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey last May. |
He had been tortured for his benefit money and kept as a "slave" by his attackers, Luton Crown Court heard. | |
James Watt, 27, his girlfriend Natasha Oldfield, 29, and his brother's girlfriend Nichola Roberts, 21, were convicted of his murder. | James Watt, 27, his girlfriend Natasha Oldfield, 29, and his brother's girlfriend Nichola Roberts, 21, were convicted of his murder. |
James's brother Robert Watt, 20, and his mother Jennifer Smith-Dennis, of Chertsey Close, Luton, were found guilty of familial homicide. | |
A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, had previously admitted familial homicide. | A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, had previously admitted familial homicide. |
'Years of violence' | 'Years of violence' |
In addition, all were been found guilty of perverting the course of justice. All will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Monday. | |
Three people were convicted of Mr Gilbert's murder | |
Antonio Watt, the men's 70-year-old father, was acquitted of familial homicide last month and was also acquitted of perverting the course of justice. | |
Mr Gilbert, described in court as "vulnerable", met James Watt when they were both 15 and living at a children's home, the court heard. | |
He was later introduced to the Watt family and went to live with them. | He was later introduced to the Watt family and went to live with them. |
The prosecution said Mr Gilbert had been hit with bats, shot and stabbed, with the beatings often filmed on mobile phones. | |
Mr Gilbert, who was forced to do chores, escaped several times from the Luton house, but was forced to return. | |
When he escaped, James Watt would pose as him and, using his National Insurance number, discover where he was collecting benefits, and go and bring him back, the court heard. | |
Detectives believe he died overnight between 21 and 22 January 2009. | |
The body was wrapped in layers of black bags and cling-film and placed in a builder's bag, stowed in the boot of Robert Watt's car and driven to the lagoon where a fishing trolley, and later a wheelbarrow, was used to transport the corpse on the mile-long walk to the lagoon. | |
Missing body parts | |
Mr Gilbert's headless corpse was spotted by two anglers fishing at the lagoon last May. | |
His knee joints, forearm and elbow were missing, as well as the head, although the torso and some other body parts were present. | |
If Michael could have just fought back just once and defended himself years ago when it started, the violence would have ended Mr Gilbert's mother Rosalie White | |
Mr Gilbert's severed head was not discovered until February this year along with the other missing body parts. | |
Richard Watt was temporarily taken out of prison to help police find it, after pleading guilty to familial homicide and perverting the course of justice. | |
The court heard after the verdicts that James Watt has 14 previous convictions for 22 different offences, including affray and shooting someone with an airgun. | |
Robert Watt has two convictions, including battery and theft, while their mother was of good character, the court was told. | |
Mr Gilbert's family said they believed he kept quiet about the abuse to protect them. | |
His mother, Rosalie White, 49, said if her own children had been doing what the Watt brothers were doing, she would have "shopped" them. | |
She said: "That mother (Jennifer Smith-Dennis) could have done something to help Michael and never did. | |
"If Michael could have just fought back just once and defended himself years ago when it started, the violence would have ended. Instead he would stand there and take it." |