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Tia Sharp murder trial: Stuart Hazell pleads guilty Tia Sharp murder trial: Stuart Hazell pleads guilty
(35 minutes later)
The man accused of murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp after sexually assaulting her has changed his plea to guilty.The man accused of murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp after sexually assaulting her has changed his plea to guilty.
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.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.
Tia was last seen alive at the house on 3 August and her body was found in the 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 said he changed his plea because Tia's family had "suffered enough". He will be sentenced on Tuesday.Hazell said he changed his plea because Tia's family had "suffered enough". He will be sentenced on Tuesday.
Hazell had claimed Tia was killed falling down the stairs and that he hid her body in panic. He had claimed Tia was killed falling down the stairs and that he hid her body in panic.
He has previous convictions for drug dealing, racially aggravated common assault, burglary and causing grievous bodily harm. Hazell 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.In a statement read to the court, Tia's mother Natalie Sharp said: "I gave the ultimate trust to Stuart.
"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."
'Extremely distressing''Extremely distressing'
Tia's father, Steven Carter, said Hazell should "serve his time and be hanged".Tia's father, Steven Carter, said Hazell should "serve his time and be hanged".
"I do not see today's events as justice for Tia, merely a legal conviction," he said."I do not see today's events as justice for Tia, merely a legal conviction," he said.
Det Ch Insp Nick Scola said: "I hope, bring some closure for her family who have seen justice served.Det Ch Insp Nick Scola said: "I hope, bring some closure for her family who have seen justice served.
"However, Hazell's conviction will never bring Tia back and her family will have to live with her loss for the rest of their lives.""However, Hazell's conviction will never bring Tia back and her family will have to live with her loss for the rest of their lives."
Alison Saunders, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This is an extremely distressing time of the family Alison Saunders, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This is an extremely distressing time of the family.
"I hope that this prosecution and the result can provide them with some small crumb of comfort in what has been a terrible time for them.""I hope that this prosecution and the result can provide them with some small crumb of comfort in what has been a terrible time for them."
'Only brave 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".Lord Carlile QC, mitigating, told the court that Hazell was a man "who has an extraordinary capacity for living through lies".
"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," he said."His decision to plead guilty today is probably the bravest decision he's ever made in his life. Perhaps the only brave decision," he said.
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 video clips and 11 still images of Tia sleeping.There were also video clips and 11 still images of Tia sleeping.
'Significant sexual offence''Significant sexual offence'
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."
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.