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Christopher Halliwell admits Sian O'Callaghan murder Christopher Halliwell admits Sian O'Callaghan murder
(35 minutes later)
A taxi driver has pleaded guilty to the murder of Sian O'Callaghan who went missing after visiting a nightclub in Swindon in March last year.A taxi driver has pleaded guilty to the murder of Sian O'Callaghan who went missing after visiting a nightclub in Swindon in March last year.
Christopher Halliwell, 48, of Ashbury Avenue, sexually assaulted the 22-year-old office worker and stabbed her in the head and neck.Christopher Halliwell, 48, of Ashbury Avenue, sexually assaulted the 22-year-old office worker and stabbed her in the head and neck.
He was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison.
A charge of murdering Becky Godden, 28, has been removed from the indictment as a detective ignored arrest guidelines.
It can be reported for the first time that the second charge was withdrawn after a High Court judge ruled Det Supt Steve Fulcher breached Halliwell's rights by failing to caution him and denying him a solicitor in an attempt to force information out of him.
'Inappropriate contact'
During a series of one-to-one interviews over the course of three hours, Halliwell confessed to murdering Miss O'Callaghan and took Mr Fulcher to her body.
He then admitted he had killed another woman and showed the detective where Miss Godden was buried.
The judge said: "As soon as he began to talk about another offence it is clear that he should have been cautioned."
Wiltshire Police said Mr Fulcher has been suspended pending an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into allegations of "inappropriate contact with the media".
Halliwell was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of Miss O'Callaghan.
She had left the Suju nightclub at 02:53 GMT on 19 March for the short journey home.
Her body was found days later near the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire.Her body was found days later near the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire.
Halliwell was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years.
Miss O'Callaghan had left the Suju nightclub at 02:53 GMT on 19 March for the short journey home.
The court heard Halliwell had been cruising around Swindon that night deliberately looking for a victim.The court heard Halliwell had been cruising around Swindon that night deliberately looking for a victim.
He had switched off the radio inside his vehicle which allowed colleagues at his taxi company to know where he was.He had switched off the radio inside his vehicle which allowed colleagues at his taxi company to know where he was.
Visited body 'Raw pain'
After leaving the nightclub, Miss O'Callaghan walked past the Goddard Arms on High Street in the Old Town area and got into Halliwell's taxi.After leaving the nightclub, Miss O'Callaghan walked past the Goddard Arms on High Street in the Old Town area and got into Halliwell's taxi.
He drove his victim to Savernake Forest, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, where he killed her.He drove his victim to Savernake Forest, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, where he killed her.
About 400 people helped police search the forest, where a signal from her mobile phone had been picked up soon after she was last seen.
A £20,000 reward to help find her was offered by an anonymous donor.
Using CCTV, police identified Halliwell through the number plate on his car and he was put under surveillance.Using CCTV, police identified Halliwell through the number plate on his car and he was put under surveillance.
He made four visits to where Miss O'Callaghan's body was hidden in the 24 hours after her abduction.He made four visits to where Miss O'Callaghan's body was hidden in the 24 hours after her abduction.
By the early hours of 21 March Halliwell had moved the body from Savernake Forest to the spot where it was later found.By the early hours of 21 March Halliwell had moved the body from Savernake Forest to the spot where it was later found.
'Raw pain'
He then attempted to cover his tracks by cleaning his car and burning his seat covers.He then attempted to cover his tracks by cleaning his car and burning his seat covers.
Halliwell was also captured on CCTV at a petrol station with posters about Miss O'Callaghan's disappearance in the rear windows of his taxi.Halliwell was also captured on CCTV at a petrol station with posters about Miss O'Callaghan's disappearance in the rear windows of his taxi.
He was arrested on 24 March outside an Asda store in Swindon after buying a quantity of drugs.
Police feared he was about to take his own life.
When Miss O'Callaghan's body was discovered five days after she went missing, her father Mick spoke of the family's "raw and overwhelming" pain.When Miss O'Callaghan's body was discovered five days after she went missing, her father Mick spoke of the family's "raw and overwhelming" pain.
Her body had been found face down and naked from her waist to her ankles.
Forensic examinations found Miss O'Callaghan's blood in the rear of Halliwell's car
Miss O'Callaghan's family were in court to see Halliwell plead guilty.Miss O'Callaghan's family were in court to see Halliwell plead guilty.
A victim impact statement from her boyfriend Kevin Reape, which was read in court, said his heart had been "ripped out" and his life "destroyed".A victim impact statement from her boyfriend Kevin Reape, which was read in court, said his heart had been "ripped out" and his life "destroyed".