This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8629123.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Three guilty of murdering 'slave' | 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. | 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, both of Chertsey Close, Luton, were found guilty of familial homicide. | James's brother Robert Watt, 20, and his mother Jennifer Smith-Dennis, both of Chertsey Close, Luton, were found guilty of familial homicide. |
Natasha Oldfield, also of Chertsey Close, was also found guilty of assisting an offender. | Natasha Oldfield, also of Chertsey Close, was also found guilty of assisting an offender. |
A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, had previously admitted familial homicide. | A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, had previously admitted familial homicide. |
All were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Monday. | All were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Monday. |
'Years of violence' | 'Years of violence' |
Antonio Watt, the brothers' 70-year-old father, was acquitted of familial homicide last month and was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice. | Antonio Watt, the brothers' 70-year-old father, was acquitted of familial homicide last month and was found not guilty 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. | 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. |
Natasha Oldfield, James Watt and Nichola Roberts were guilty of murder | Natasha Oldfield, James Watt and Nichola Roberts were guilty of murder |
The prosecution said Mr Gilbert had been hit with bats, shot and stabbed, with the beatings often filmed on mobile phones. | 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 Watts' Luton house, but was forced to return. | Mr Gilbert, who was forced to do chores, escaped several times from the Watts' Luton house, but was forced to return. |
When Mr Gilbert escaped, James Watt would pose as him and, using his National Insurance number, discover where he was collecting benefits. | When Mr Gilbert escaped, James Watt would pose as him and, using his National Insurance number, discover where he was collecting benefits. |
He would then use that information to find him and bring him back. | He would then use that information to find him and bring him back. |
Detectives believe he died overnight between 21 and 22 January 2009. | Detectives believe he died overnight between 21 and 22 January 2009. |
Mr Gilbert's 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. | Mr Gilbert's 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. |
Mobile phone footage shows Michael Gilbert's abuse | Mobile phone footage shows Michael Gilbert's abuse |
Mr Gilbert's headless corpse was spotted by two anglers fishing at the lagoon last May. | 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. | His knee joints, forearm and elbow were missing, as well as the head, although the torso and some other body parts were present. |
Mr Gilbert's severed head was not discovered until February this year, along with the other missing body parts. | 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. | 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 an airgun shooting. | The court heard after the verdicts that James Watt has 14 previous convictions for 22 different offences, including affray and an airgun shooting. |
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 | 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 |
Robert Watt has two previous convictions, including battery and theft, while their mother was of good character, the court was told. | Robert Watt has two previous 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |
Det Ch Insp Jon Humphries, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said of Mr Gilbert: "For years he was seriously assaulted and threatened in order to keep him there and the jury heard how his abuse became their entertainment. | Det Ch Insp Jon Humphries, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said of Mr Gilbert: "For years he was seriously assaulted and threatened in order to keep him there and the jury heard how his abuse became their entertainment. |
"The callousness shown by all those involved in this trial is beyond anything that I have witnessed in over 26 years service." | "The callousness shown by all those involved in this trial is beyond anything that I have witnessed in over 26 years service." |
The Luton Safeguarding Of Vulnerable Adults Board (SOVA) has announced a Serious Case Review into how social services dealt with Mr Gilbert. | The Luton Safeguarding Of Vulnerable Adults Board (SOVA) has announced a Serious Case Review into how social services dealt with Mr Gilbert. |
It aims to establish if anything could have been done differently by the local professionals and agencies who work to safeguard vulnerable adults. | It aims to establish if anything could have been done differently by the local professionals and agencies who work to safeguard vulnerable adults. |
Michael Gilbert's family gave their reaction outside court | Michael Gilbert's family gave their reaction outside court |