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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| 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. | He was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. |
| A charge of murdering Becky Godden, 28, will lie on file as a detective did not follow 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| It can be reported for the first time that the second charge was withdrawn after a High Court judge ruled Det Supt Steve Fulcher breached Halliwell's rights by failing to caution him and denying him a solicitor in an attempt to force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. | It can be reported for the first time that the second charge was withdrawn after a High Court judge ruled Det Supt Steve Fulcher breached Halliwell's rights by failing to caution him and denying him a solicitor in an attempt to force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' | '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. | 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. | 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." | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Raw pain' | '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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Great dignity' | |
| 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". |
| Speaking outside the court, Mr O'Callaghan said he wanted to thank Det Supt Fulcher for finding his daughter's body so soon. | |
| "Our thoughts go to Becky's family and hope their conclusion comes as it has for us," he said. | |
| Det Ch Supt Kier Pritchard, of Wiltshire Police, said: "Sian's family and loved ones have shown great dignity throughout the court process. | |
| "I hope this conviction will in someway help the family move forward and onward with their lives." |