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Rachel Manning murder: Shahidul Ahmed found guilty | Rachel Manning murder: Shahidul Ahmed found guilty |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been jailed for life for killing a 19-year-old woman more than a decade after her boyfriend was wrongly jailed for the crime. | A man has been jailed for life for killing a 19-year-old woman more than a decade after her boyfriend was wrongly jailed for the crime. |
Shahidul Ahmed strangled Rachel Manning in Milton Keynes and dumped her body at a golf course in 2000. | Shahidul Ahmed strangled Rachel Manning in Milton Keynes and dumped her body at a golf course in 2000. |
In 2002, Barri White was convicted of murder and his friend Keith Hyatt of perverting the course of justice. Both had their convictions quashed in 2007. | In 2002, Barri White was convicted of murder and his friend Keith Hyatt of perverting the course of justice. Both had their convictions quashed in 2007. |
Ahmed, 41, of Bletchley, was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years. | Ahmed, 41, of Bletchley, was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years. |
Mr White said that he was "over the moon" that Ahmed had been convicted of her murder, adding that "justice has finally been done". | Mr White said that he was "over the moon" that Ahmed had been convicted of her murder, adding that "justice has finally been done". |
He said that he was "really happy that Rachel's family have finally got justice and the closure they deserve". | He said that he was "really happy that Rachel's family have finally got justice and the closure they deserve". |
'Rebuild our lives' | 'Rebuild our lives' |
Speaking outside Luton Crown Court, Mr Hyatt said the conviction had given him "closure". | Speaking outside Luton Crown Court, Mr Hyatt said the conviction had given him "closure". |
"We've closed the book," he said. "Hopefully we can just rebuild our lives and try to get on with life." | "We've closed the book," he said. "Hopefully we can just rebuild our lives and try to get on with life." |
The convictions of Mr White and Mr Hyatt were quashed after a BBC Rough Justice documentary questioned the forensic evidence used to convict them. | |
Mr White was then cleared after a re-trial in 2008. | |
Shop assistant Miss Manning had been to a fancy dress party and Chicago's nightclub with Mr White when she became lost in the early hours of 10 December 2000. | Shop assistant Miss Manning had been to a fancy dress party and Chicago's nightclub with Mr White when she became lost in the early hours of 10 December 2000. |
Miss Manning, of Milton Keynes, was found dead in undergrowth at Woburn Golf Club two days later. | Miss Manning, of Milton Keynes, was found dead in undergrowth at Woburn Golf Club two days later. |
She had been strangled and her face disfigured with a steering lock, which was found 500m (546 yards) from her body. | She had been strangled and her face disfigured with a steering lock, which was found 500m (546 yards) from her body. |
Father-of-five Ahmed stood trial earlier this year, when a jury failed to reach a verdict. | Father-of-five Ahmed stood trial earlier this year, when a jury failed to reach a verdict. |
Ahmed, whose DNA was linked to the case following his arrest for a sex attack in 2010, did not give evidence at either trial. | Ahmed, whose DNA was linked to the case following his arrest for a sex attack in 2010, did not give evidence at either trial. |
The court heard that the defendant, a restaurant worker, got rid of his car eight days after Miss Manning's death. | The court heard that the defendant, a restaurant worker, got rid of his car eight days after Miss Manning's death. |
Jurors were told his DNA was found on the steering lock and it was "totally improbable" that a hair found on Miss Manning's clothing did not belong to Ahmed. | Jurors were told his DNA was found on the steering lock and it was "totally improbable" that a hair found on Miss Manning's clothing did not belong to Ahmed. |
Sentencing Ahmed, Mr Justice Wilkie said: "Rachel Manning was a charming, witty, gregarious, happy, positive person who had much to look forward to. | Sentencing Ahmed, Mr Justice Wilkie said: "Rachel Manning was a charming, witty, gregarious, happy, positive person who had much to look forward to. |
'Wholly innocent' | 'Wholly innocent' |
"You snuffed all that out, driven by the same demon that led you, in 2010, to carry out a sex assault." | "You snuffed all that out, driven by the same demon that led you, in 2010, to carry out a sex assault." |
The judge added: "You must have known that two other people - Barri White and Keith Hyatt - had suffered the agony of being accused, convicted and imprisoned for offences of which they were wholly innocent. | The judge added: "You must have known that two other people - Barri White and Keith Hyatt - had suffered the agony of being accused, convicted and imprisoned for offences of which they were wholly innocent. |
"Nobody can bring back Rachel's lost life and their lost years." | "Nobody can bring back Rachel's lost life and their lost years." |
In a statement read to the jury, Miss Manning's mother Liz said: "She was a vibrant and happy girl - looking forward to the New Year." | In a statement read to the jury, Miss Manning's mother Liz said: "She was a vibrant and happy girl - looking forward to the New Year." |
Det Ch Supt Rob Mason, of Thames Valley Police, paid tribute to the Manning family. | Det Ch Supt Rob Mason, of Thames Valley Police, paid tribute to the Manning family. |
He said: "I cannot praise Rachel's family enough - they have remained dignified and courageous throughout, despite the unimaginable nightmare they have endured. | He said: "I cannot praise Rachel's family enough - they have remained dignified and courageous throughout, despite the unimaginable nightmare they have endured. |
"I hope that today will give some comfort to the family after the ordeal they have been through." | "I hope that today will give some comfort to the family after the ordeal they have been through." |