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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Stephen Seddon found guilty over parents' murder | Stephen Seddon found guilty over parents' murder |
| (7 days later) | |
| A man with an "insatiable thirst" for money was facing life in prison on Wednesday for the cold-blooded "execution" of his parents for his £230,000 inheritance. | A man with an "insatiable thirst" for money was facing life in prison on Wednesday for the cold-blooded "execution" of his parents for his £230,000 inheritance. |
| Convicted fraudster Stephen Seddon, 46, had once before tried to murder his father, Robert Seddon, 68, and mother, Patricia, 65, by driving into a canal with them strapped in the back seats in a faked road accident. | Convicted fraudster Stephen Seddon, 46, had once before tried to murder his father, Robert Seddon, 68, and mother, Patricia, 65, by driving into a canal with them strapped in the back seats in a faked road accident. |
| Seddon then "played the hero" in the aftermath, after aborting the murder plan when bystanders went to their aid in the submerged car. | Seddon then "played the hero" in the aftermath, after aborting the murder plan when bystanders went to their aid in the submerged car. |
| But after that plan failed, four months later, he shot the couple to death with a sawn-off shotgun at their suburban home in Sale, greater Manchester. His parents had made him sole beneficiary of their £230,000 estate in their will. | But after that plan failed, four months later, he shot the couple to death with a sawn-off shotgun at their suburban home in Sale, greater Manchester. His parents had made him sole beneficiary of their £230,000 estate in their will. |
| The father of three, from Seaham, County Durham, was convicted of two counts of attempted murder on 20 March and two counts of murder on 4 July, after a five-week trial at Manchester crown court. | The father of three, from Seaham, County Durham, was convicted of two counts of attempted murder on 20 March and two counts of murder on 4 July, after a five-week trial at Manchester crown court. |
| Seddon shook his head in resignation as he stood in the dock as the jury delivered their four guilty verdicts. | Seddon shook his head in resignation as he stood in the dock as the jury delivered their four guilty verdicts. |
| Seddon was found guilty by a majority of 11 to one on each count, following 18 hours and 11 minutes of deliberations by the jury. | Seddon was found guilty by a majority of 11 to one on each count, following 18 hours and 11 minutes of deliberations by the jury. |
| The victims' family shouted "Yes!" and burst into tears, while hugging each other in the public gallery. | The victims' family shouted "Yes!" and burst into tears, while hugging each other in the public gallery. |
| The defendant faces four life sentences, but Alan Hedworth QC, defending, asked the judge to consider not giving a "whole life" tariff so that Seddon would spend the rest of his days behind bars. | The defendant faces four life sentences, but Alan Hedworth QC, defending, asked the judge to consider not giving a "whole life" tariff so that Seddon would spend the rest of his days behind bars. |
| Mr Justice Hamblen said he would like to reflect on the matter and told the court he will pass sentence tomorrow morning. | Mr Justice Hamblen said he would like to reflect on the matter and told the court he will pass sentence tomorrow morning. |
| He thanked the jury and told them they would be welcome to return to court on Thursday morning to see sentence passed. | He thanked the jury and told them they would be welcome to return to court on Thursday morning to see sentence passed. |
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