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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. The man accused of murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp after sexually assaulting her has changed his plea to guilty.
The 37-year-old had denied murder and sexual assault of the 12-year-old in Croydon, south London, last year. Stuart Hazell, 37, the partner of Tia's grandmother, had claimed the girl died in an accident at their house 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. Tia was last seen alive at the house on 3 August and her body was found in the 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 said he changed his plea because Tia's family had "suffered enough". He will be sentenced on Tuesday.
He will be sentenced on Tuesday. Hazell had claimed Tia was killed falling down the stairs and that he hid her body in panic.
Hazell had previously claimed Tia died in an accident and he hid her body in panic. He has previous convictions for drug dealing, racially aggravated common assault, burglary and causing grievous bodily harm.
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."
'Bravest decision' 'Only brave decision'
Lord Carlile QC, mitigating, told the court that Hazell was a man "who has an extraordinary capacity for living through lies he has made up, and hoping to come out the other end of the story".Lord Carlile QC, mitigating, told the court that Hazell was a man "who has an extraordinary capacity for living through lies he has made up, and hoping to come out the other end of the story".
"The easiest thing for Stuart Hazell to do would have been to brazen out the rest of this case, possibly, or not to give evidence."The easiest thing for Stuart Hazell to do would have been to brazen out the rest of this case, possibly, or not to give evidence.
"His decision to plead guilty today is probably the bravest decision he's ever made in his life. Perhaps the only brave decision.""His decision to plead guilty today is probably the bravest decision he's ever made in his life. Perhaps the only brave decision."
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.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 video clips and 11 still images of Tia sleeping.
'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."
Hazell is a convicted drug dealer and has previous convictions for offences including racially aggravated common assault, burglary and grievous bodily harm.
'Golden angel''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.