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| Tia Sharp murder trial: Stuart Hazell pleads guilty | Tia Sharp murder trial: Stuart Hazell pleads guilty |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Stuart Hazell has pleaded guilty to the murder of schoolgirl Tia Sharp. | Stuart Hazell has pleaded guilty to the murder of schoolgirl Tia Sharp. |
| The 37-year-old had denied murder and sexual assault of the 12-year-old in Croydon, south London, last year. | The 37-year-old had denied murder and sexual assault of the 12-year-old in Croydon, south London, last year. |
| She was last seen on 3 August at the house of Hazell's partner, Tia's grandmother. Her body was found in her grandmother's loft a week later. | She was last seen on 3 August at the house of Hazell's partner, Tia's grandmother. Her body was found in her grandmother's loft a week later. |
| Hazell, who has drug dealing and assault convictions dating back to 1991, said he changed his plea because Tia's family had "suffered enough". | Hazell, who has drug dealing and assault convictions dating back to 1991, said he changed his plea because Tia's family had "suffered enough". |
| He had previously claimed Tia died in an accident and he hid her body in panic. | He had previously claimed Tia died in an accident and he hid her body in panic. |
| In a statement read to the court, Tia's mother Natalie Sharp said: "I gave the ultimate trust to Stuart and there is so much that I want to ask him. | In a statement read to the court, Tia's mother Natalie Sharp said: "I gave the ultimate trust to Stuart and there is so much that I want to ask him. |
| "Sometimes I feel pity, that I want to hurt him, but I can never hurt him like he has hurt me. | "Sometimes I feel pity, that I want to hurt him, but I can never hurt him like he has hurt me. |
| "She was mine and no-one else's. I had someone to love. | "She was mine and no-one else's. I had someone to love. |
| "Since Tia was taken I've lost my trust in everyone. | "Since Tia was taken I've lost my trust in everyone. |
| "I haven't allowed myself to grieve yet. | "I haven't allowed myself to grieve yet. |
| "When the trial is done it will be over, but it won't be for us." | "When the trial is done it will be over, but it won't be for us." |
| The prosecution said Hazell had a sexual attraction to the schoolgirl. | The prosecution said Hazell had a sexual attraction to the schoolgirl. |
| The jury had been shown an image of a child alleged to be Tia, dead on a bed at her grandmother's house in New Addington. | |
| Blood could be seen on the bed linen in the picture, said to have been taken in the early hours of 3 August, when prosecutors say Tia died. | Blood could be seen on the bed linen in the picture, said to have been taken in the early hours of 3 August, when prosecutors say Tia died. |
| Jurors heard two memory cards were found in the house, one in the kitchen and one, hidden on top of a doorframe, which contained "extensive pornography" featuring young girls. | Jurors heard two memory cards were found in the house, one in the kitchen and one, hidden on top of a doorframe, which contained "extensive pornography" featuring young girls. |
| There were also three video clips and 11 still images of Tia sleeping. | There were also three video clips and 11 still images of Tia sleeping. |
| 'A bully' | 'A bully' |
| The trial was read a letter written by Hazell to his father from prison saying he had made "one mistake" and his "whole world collapsed" . | The trial was read a letter written by Hazell to his father from prison saying he had made "one mistake" and his "whole world collapsed" . |
| The letter was headed with the words "forgive me" and a picture of a sad face. | The letter was headed with the words "forgive me" and a picture of a sad face. |
| It read: "What happened I will explain in time, but put it this way, it was an accident and I panicked. | It read: "What happened I will explain in time, but put it this way, it was an accident and I panicked. |
| "Stupid I know but for my stupidity I'm looking at 15 to 18 years. I regret it every second of every day." | "Stupid I know but for my stupidity I'm looking at 15 to 18 years. I regret it every second of every day." |
| Hazell is a convicted drug dealer and has previous convictions for offences including racially aggravated common assault, burglary and grievous bodily harm. | Hazell is a convicted drug dealer and has previous convictions for offences including racially aggravated common assault, burglary and grievous bodily harm. |
| 'Golden angel' | |
| Andrew Edis QC for the prosecution told the court: "We do not know and never will know what took place in that house that night. | Andrew Edis QC for the prosecution told the court: "We do not know and never will know what took place in that house that night. |
| "But it is clear that Hazell committed a significant sexual offence against her, killed her, took her photograph as some form of keepsake, and then in quite a calculated way wrapped up the body and got it up to the loft." | "But it is clear that Hazell committed a significant sexual offence against her, killed her, took her photograph as some form of keepsake, and then in quite a calculated way wrapped up the body and got it up to the loft." |
| During the hunt for missing Tia, Hazell said she was "like my own daughter". | During the hunt for missing Tia, Hazell said she was "like my own daughter". |
| He described Tia as "a happy-go-lucky golden angel" and said there had been no problems at her "loving home" before she vanished. | He described Tia as "a happy-go-lucky golden angel" and said there had been no problems at her "loving home" before she vanished. |
| Hazell is expected to be sentenced later. | Hazell is expected to be sentenced later. |