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Nikitta Grender: Carl Whant jailed for 35 years for murdering pregnant teenager Nikitta Grender: Carl Whant jailed for 35 years for murdering pregnant teenager
(40 minutes later)
A former nightclub bouncer has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years for murdering a pregnant teenager two weeks before she was due to give birth.A former nightclub bouncer has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years for murdering a pregnant teenager two weeks before she was due to give birth.
Carl Whant, 27, of Bettws, Newport, raped and stabbed 19-year-old Nikitta Grender at her home, killing her unborn daughter at the same time.Carl Whant, 27, of Bettws, Newport, raped and stabbed 19-year-old Nikitta Grender at her home, killing her unborn daughter at the same time.
He set fire to her flat before returning to a party where he had been all night with her boyfriend.He set fire to her flat before returning to a party where he had been all night with her boyfriend.
Whant was convicted of murder, rape, child destruction and arson.Whant was convicted of murder, rape, child destruction and arson.
Sobs and some whispers of "yes" were heard in Newport Crown Court as the jury announced it had found him guilty after a trial lasting more than a month. Ms Grender had already named her baby girl Kelsey-May.
Whant remained motionless in the dock. Outside Newport Crown Court after the verdict, the victim's uncle, Michael Brunnock, said in a statement: "The last 12 months have been harder for us than you could ever imagine.
Ryan Mayes, who was Ms Grender's boyfriend and the father of her unborn baby - and Whant's close friend and second cousin - looked shocked and moved by the verdict. "And as a family we remain in total disbelief as to what has happened.
Mr Mayes looked at Whant and shook his head gently at each verdict. "Nikitta was so young and beautiful and together with Ryan, they were to become a very proud set of parents to Kelsey-May.
"This has been ripped from them by Carl Whant, who has never had the decency to tell us the truth.
"For us to see our grandchild for the first time in a mortuary was the most heartbreaking thing we have ever had to do.
"Nikitta was so special and will remain in our hearts until we die. We will never deal with the tragic events that have stolen our family from us but hope we can at least start to understand what has happened."
Sobs and some whispers of "yes" were heard in the court as the jury announced it had found him guilty after a trial lasting more than a month.
'Calculating and devious'
As he sentenced Whant to life in prison with a minimum of 35 years, Judge Mr Justice Griffith Williams warned the public to remain calm.As he sentenced Whant to life in prison with a minimum of 35 years, Judge Mr Justice Griffith Williams warned the public to remain calm.
The judge told Whant that the family's grief was more deep because he had alleged that she had consented to have sex with him. He said Whant had left the party because "you fancied Nikitta and wanted to have sex with her".
'Preposterous claim' He said that because he knew that she would not agree, and "you went armed with a knife, prepared to rape her.
He called Whant "calculating and devious" and said he had left the party because "you fancied Nikitta and wanted to have sex with her".
He said that because he knew that she would not agree, "you went armed with a knife, prepared to rape her.
"The likelihood is that she let you in, believing that Ryan was with you.""The likelihood is that she let you in, believing that Ryan was with you."
His mother looked at him and turned her view away, staring straight into courtroom, while his aunt was in tears. The judge told Whant that the murder had "left her family, Ryan Mayes, and her friends bereft.
"The subsequent loss was compounded by the knowledge that her murderer had raped her and then tried to destroy her body.
"The grief was made all the more deep because you did not scruple to make the wholly false allegation that she had consensual sex with you."
The judge said Whant acted with "quite extraordinary hypocrisy" after the murder was discovered, and even took flowers to the Grender household.
He said that having listened to his evidence he concluded that What was a "calculating, vain and devious" individual.
But the judge said said the full facts of what happened on the morning of the murder may never be known.
But he added: "The explanation for these crimes lies in part in your vanity."
"You told the police that she was 'feisty' and in my view she told you that she was going to report you to the police for raping her, and that is why you murdered her."
Scratches on wrists
Whant's trial heard that Ms Grender's badly-burned body was discovered at the flat in Broadmead Park, Lliswerry, Newport, on 5 February 2011 after firefighters were called.Whant's trial heard that Ms Grender's badly-burned body was discovered at the flat in Broadmead Park, Lliswerry, Newport, on 5 February 2011 after firefighters were called.
A post-mortem examination found her throat had been slashed and her stomach stabbed. She had died before the fire started.A post-mortem examination found her throat had been slashed and her stomach stabbed. She had died before the fire started.
Whant was arrested four days later.Whant was arrested four days later.
DNA tests confirmed he had had sex with Ms Grender, and scratches were found on his wrists.DNA tests confirmed he had had sex with Ms Grender, and scratches were found on his wrists.
Whant had initially denied any contact with Ms Grender. But he later changed his story and claimed he had had consensual sex with her the night she was killed after an invitation by Mr Mayes.Whant had initially denied any contact with Ms Grender. But he later changed his story and claimed he had had consensual sex with her the night she was killed after an invitation by Mr Mayes.
He said he had only initially denied having sex with her because he did not want to upset his girlfriend.He said he had only initially denied having sex with her because he did not want to upset his girlfriend.
When giving evidence, Mr Mayes described this claim as "preposterous".When giving evidence, Mr Mayes described this claim as "preposterous".
Whant was caught on CCTV by three separate cameras driving his car from the party he had been to near Ms Grender's flat.Whant was caught on CCTV by three separate cameras driving his car from the party he had been to near Ms Grender's flat.
Blood on a shirt and in his car was also identified as Ms Grender's.Blood on a shirt and in his car was also identified as Ms Grender's.