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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. |
He had claimed Tia was killed falling down the stairs and that he hid her body in panic. | |
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. | |
"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. |