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I don’t really see why Nicola’s family would have the wrong idea about her alcohol problem or give incorrect information. We can assume they’re wrong or misleading if we want, but there’s no more reason to disbelieve it than to believe it; in fact given it’s information from people close to her...

I hear what you’re saying, it’s a remote location. I don’t mean to project on Nicola too much based on how I’ve acted myself!! — but I am just wondering if there was some shop near the school with an alcohol licence from say 8am or 9am, and Nicola knew she would be sound off & video off on a...

I personally don’t believe Rothwell’s account for a number of reasons, and will wait for the inquest for details of how Nicola was found. I won’t go into more details as not sure it’s on-topic. Like I say, I’m prepared to be totally wrong, but just my interpretation.

Although there are details of this case that seem superficially mysterious, I think a lot of queries will be answered by the inquest. There may well be evidence as to whether Nicola was drinking that morning (I am not being critical of Nicola, as a recovering alcoholic myself, but wonder if...

I think Bellfield is playing a game again and didn’t kill Lin and Megan Russell, but the use of a hammer to kill is a really unusual feature and that just can’t be ignored. I am sceptical about the “only the killer would know” detail because I suspect it will be something Bellfield has made up...

I noticed this press coverage with Elizabeth’s family: Family of woman Levi Bellfield claims to have murdered say Met failed them I do feel that some of these older murder cases need to be properly reinvestigated. It’s not right that Elizabeth and Lola’s families don’t have answers and race...

If Bellfield can point to the locations of the bodies then fine, and I’m sure he has more victims than he’s been convicted of, but I believe he now is in a pattern of sporadically confessing to murders he did not commit. Not every random murder of women and young girls in the SE in a certain era...

This case just came up on an old Crimewatch on YouTube. To be honest, thank goodness for Crimewatch and the person on YouTube uploading, as I don’t know how some of these older cases would ever have any online presence otherwise. What a sad case, Lorna seemed to present as positive and likeable...

Was watching old episodes of Crimewatch and this case came up. Didn’t expect to Google the crime and see someone was arrested yesterday… the age of the person arrested doesn’t match the age of the person in prison who I’d guess did this. Wonder how this one will develop.

I totally understand. My partner and I have tried over and over to have kids. It hasn’t happened. We haven’t been lucky, we probably can’t have children, and it hurts. I am utterly appalled that someone would use his biological ability to procreate as some kind of a defence to murdering a...

I mean as someone not blessed with children, I am very annoyed to see “had kids” ever pleaded. I haven’t been able to have children — that shouldn’t count against me?! Or in favour of someone who’s fertile. Just an aside.

Very tedious to see “managed to have kids” pleaded as a mitigating factor. Not relevant.

42 years — glad to see it. Pushed into the 40s as some of us anticipated due to use of gun, planned murder, murder for hire I believe. Would have liked to have seen whole life but appreciate the intention was not to kill a child. Seems the right sentence in context. Feel free to rot, Tommy. You...

I completely agree, on principle this would send a hugely strong message. I don’t think we are there in terms of sentencing, unfortunately, but the sentence is certainly available (organised crime aspect, very premeditated, murder for hire, use of gun, child victim, creating terror in victim’s...

Not ever been an issue in the UK before now. That would signal an escalation we have never seen here to date and frankly I believe the whole country would go to full panic stations if it happened until the perpetrators were caught. Would also be interested to see people denying being serious...

I think it would send an important message in the community given the spate of drug gangs shootings in Liverpool and Merseyside if Cashman were given a sentence that totally eliminated the possibility of parole. I don’t think he will get whole life, but wish he would.

Yes, there is one criterion for a whole life order: the offence is sufficiently serious. That’s it. It doesn’t matter how many victims, the age of the victims, etc — just whether the crime is “serious” enough. The guidelines add some context as to when a whole life order might be a starting...

I would like the “message sending” here to gangsters to be if you shoot a child when trying to kill someone, you don’t get to see daylight. Our system isn’t totally set up for that but it’s possible the judge says he never gets out — but think 38-45 years minimum is more likely. Then again...

Total trash IMO. I don’t think Cashman will get whole life but it’s important to remember these are just examples in the legislation of where a whole life order is a suitable starting point. They aren’t hard and fast rules. For instance, no-one had anticipated a serving police officer using his...

I hope for a serious statement in the sentencing of Cashman today. This case is eligible for whole life (it doesn’t require previous offences and a single conviction of murder is sufficient, especially of a child — the guidelines simply say a whole life order may be an appropriate starting point...