GUILTY UK - Rebecca Watts, 16, Bristol, 19 Feb 2015 #16

[ColourPurple]

Becky Watts: Judge breaks down in tears as he sentences callous duo

"The judge in the Becky Watts broke down in tears and had to leave his courtroom yesterday as he sentenced Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare total of 50 years in prison.

Mr. Justice Dingemans - himself the father of a teenage girl - gave Matthews a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 33 years - and warned he could die in jail.

He caged cold-blooded Hoare for 17 years.

The judge, a father-of-three, concluded his sentencing remarks by paying tribute to Becky's "dignified" family and began to well up.

His voice broke and he had to stop to compose himself as tears welled in his eyes and his face flushed red.

The judge, age 51, choked as he finished the six-week trial by talking about how difficult the evidence must have been for the family.

His voice trembling, he said: "Finally, I should like to pay public tribute to the family of Becky for the dignified way in which they have conducted themselves throughout these proceedings.

"Hearing the evidence during the trial has been difficult for anyone, but it is plain that it has been an immense burden for the family."

Judges usually conclude their remarks by "sending down" the defendants, but instead he left the court room with his head bowed and tears in his eyes.

In contrast Hoare and Matthews remained apparently emotionless. She stared blankly forward and he looked towards the ground"




http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Becky-...tory-28169790-detail/story.html#ixzz3rOGxEYrP

 

[YidArmyRach]

Yes I agree that what they did with Becky's body is a heinous crime in itself.

It doesn't seem right to me that if SH had been guilty of *only* participating in the events after the murder, she would have only got three years. I would have been outraged if that had happened. Three years for chopping up and wrapping up and hiding a body?

I wonder if the judge used these separate charges as aggravating factors to increase the sentence on the manslaughter conviction, and that's why they're such short sentences?

Yes. Especially when the woman who tricked her friend into thinking she was a man, and had sex with her on a number of occasions, got 8 years yesterday. Sometimes I do wonder how these sentences are worked out. In effect, both NH and SH have got away with the dismemberment, and the prevention of a lawful burial.

 

[epiphany]

Becky's younger uncle states that they are actually happier with NM's sentence than Shauna's.

On video at link below:

http://www.itv.com/news/west/2015-11-13/beckys-family-say-they-finally-have-justice/

 

[ColourPurple]

Yes. Especially when the woman who tricked her friend into thinking she was a man, and had sex with her on a number of occasions, got 8 years yesterday. Sometimes I do wonder how these sentences are worked out. In effect, both NH and SH have got away with the dismemberment, and the prevention of a lawful burial.

I was shocked at that 8 year sentence. Yes she did wrong but 8 years was ridiculously high.

 

[soozieqtips]

Honestly, some of the rubbish NM came out with that he expected people to believe.

"I said 'don't struggle, you are going to be released unharmed' but she was still refusing to get into the suitcase.

"I thought about making her pass out.

"I thought that you know basically I remember punching her just once.

"Obviously I realised that's not going to work.

"I didn't feel comfortable trying to do it that way because obviously it would be violent and pain.

BIB 1 - fancy that. Becky was 'still' refusing to pack herself into a suitcase after being told she was going to be released unharmed by a nutter allegedly wearing a mask.

BIB 2 - He wasn't comfortable punching her because it would be violent and painful? Unreal.

So all the unexplained bruises weren't violent or painful? Stabbing her 15 times in the stomach wasn't a sign of rage? I don't buy the 'letting the bodily fluids out' at all. Right through the trial, he's tried to wheedle his way out of any blame by trampling all over Becky's character. He didn't care how her family would feel about the vicious things he was saying. All he cared about was blackening her name at every opportunity to make it seem like he had no choice but to resort to desperate measures to make her behave better towards his mother. How noble was he!

http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/...ws-describes/story-28063895-detail/story.html

 

[ColourPurple]

Becky's younger uncle states that they are actually happier with NM's sentence than Shauna's.

On video at link below:

http://www.itv.com/news/west/2015-11-13/beckys-family-say-they-finally-have-justice/

Aww the video

Such respect for those two young men

 

[Gigi-G]

THE SENTENCE - SHAUNA HOARE

Shauna Hoare, the girlfriend of Becky Watt's stepbrother Nathan Matthews, has been sentenced to for the teen's manslaughter.

Hoare was acquitted of Becky's murder but convicted of kidnap and manslaughter.

Conspiracy to kidnap - 10 years to run concurrently
Manslaughter - 17 years
Perverting the course of justice - 2 years to run concurrently
Preventing the lawful burial of Becky Watts - 3 years to run concurrently
Possessing a prohibited weapon, namely two stun guns - 2 years to run concurrently

http://www.itv.com/news/west/update...17-years-for-the-manslaughter-of-becky-watts/

It would be far more reasonable if the extra sentences ran concurrently after the 17 for Manslaughter.. ... e.g 17+17.. not alongside, but included in her sentence... so 34 years ...
Grrrr I am banging my head on a pillow here.... I have sinusitis.. my left side of my face from below my eye is swollen... It looks like I walked into a door 😬😨😔😭😖😫

#justiceforBecky♡

 

[YidArmyRach]

Becky's younger uncle states that they are actually happier with NM's sentence than Shauna's.

On video at link below:

http://www.itv.com/news/west/2015-11-13/beckys-family-say-they-finally-have-justice/

Why isn't Becky's mum ever mentioned as being one of the people who has suffered the most? Its always DG and AG mentioned, by DG's family - Becky's mum seems to be overlooked.

I don't mean to criticise as these two men speak really well, and are very dignified in how they say it. I just find it sad that Becky's mum seems to be airbrushed out of Becky's life at times.

 

[ColourPurple]

BIB 1 - fancy that. Becky was 'still' refusing to pack herself into a suitcase after being told she was going to be released unharmed by a nutter allegedly wearing a mask.

A "Nathan shaped" nutter!

Even if he had been wearing a mask there's no way she wouldn't have recogised him

 

[ColourPurple]

Why isn't Becky's mum ever mentioned as being one of the people who has suffered the most? Its always DG and AG mentioned, by DG's family - Becky's mum seems to be overlooked.

I don't mean to criticise as these two men speak really well, and are very dignified in how they say it. I just find it sad that Becky's mum seems to be airbrushed out of Becky's life at times.

I think it's just that they were being asked how their family had reacted.

They're in a difficult position really bless them.

 

[soozieqtips]

A "Nathan shaped" nutter!

Even if he had been wearing a mask there's no way she wouldn't have recogised him

I know. How did he disguise his height?? Of course Becky would have known who it was. That her family had to listen to the details of him putting sellotape over her eyes and mouth while she must have been desperately struggling to fight him off is horrific beyond words.

 

[jessie]

Why isn't Becky's mum ever mentioned as being one of the people who has suffered the most? Its always DG and AG mentioned, by DG's family - Becky's mum seems to be overlooked.

I don't mean to criticise as these two men speak really well, and are very dignified in how they say it. I just find it sad that Becky's mum seems to be airbrushed out of Becky's life at times.

Has it been reported why Becky went to live with her dad instead of staying with her mum on the break up?

 

[TupeloMz]

Becky's younger uncle states that they are actually happier with NM's sentence than Shauna's.

On video at link below:

http://www.itv.com/news/west/2015-11-13/beckys-family-say-they-finally-have-justice/

Bless them...
Does anyone know what they are referring to when they say Becky has gotten justice "for now"?
Also, aren't these uncles around the same age as NM? I wonder what they thought of him before he murdered their niece...

 

[Cherwell]

Why isn't Becky's mum ever mentioned as being one of the people who has suffered the most? Its always DG and AG mentioned, by DG's family - Becky's mum seems to be overlooked.

I don't mean to criticise as these two men speak really well, and are very dignified in how they say it. I just find it sad that Becky's mum seems to be airbrushed out of Becky's life at times.

I thought that at first while I was watching it, but I think they mean the extra burden they face because it's her son who did that to his daughter. It must put an unimaginable strain on their relationship.

 

[epiphany]

I had missed this from the judge re SH's sentence:


The judge noted that Nathan Matthews began to exercise increasing control over her life - controlling when she smoke or what she ate, and using violence against her "on a number of occasions".

The judge chose not to impose a discretionary life sentence, saying "her involvement in these offences was very much a product of the nature of her relationship with Nathan Matthews"

http://www.itv.com/news/west/2015-11-13/becky-watts-the-sentences-in-full/

 

[Tealgrove]

Shauna played it well. Keep your mouth shut, lie, deny and pretend you had nothing to do with it. Her tactic served her well. I always said she was the smarter of the two and I am proved correct. The survivor instinct that got her this far and will undoubtedly serve her well in prison. She is a dangerous piece of work and we have not heard the last of her.

What goes around comes around and the "coming around" part may take a little while but it will come. Of this I am sure.

I'm not happy with her sentence but it's the best to be expected. I was always worried about her. She is cunning and deceitful. She didn't get away with it but she almost did.

I'll never forget this case. It is sad and haunting. Such a beautiful life cut short by two sick and twisted cowards.

 

[jessie]

Hope it's OK to c/p this. Still worrying about SH appealing, and this was a similar sentence given to M.Philpott to which she appealed.
It wasn't upheld but I thought interesting the reasons her barrister gave are potentially what I think SH would try out.

If I've posted wrongly (inappropriately) I will of course delete Mod??



Mairead Philpott has had her 17-year prison sentence for killing her six children in a house fire in Derby upheld by the court of appeal.

Philpott, 32, was jailed alongside her husband Mick in April after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Jade Philpott and her brothers John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden and Duwayne, who were aged between five and 13.

Despite losing the first round of her attempt to challenge the length of her sentence, her lawyers succeeded in making a renewed application..

Presenting Philpott's appeal, her barrister Shaun Smith QC said: "[Her] utter dependence ... on Mick Philpott, whilst not excusing culpability, legally or morally, was not given sufficient weight in assessing the length of her sentence."

Richard Latham QC addresses the court of appeal, sitting at Nottingham crown court –

Mairead, he said, was "particularly vulnerable" to a man like Philpott who specialised in taking advantage of young girls with no family support or self esteem. She had been a loving mother, but would forever be known as a child killer; her sentence would be "a lifetime reminder of her inability to stand up to a disturbingly dangerous man".

Announcing the court's decision, Thomas said that although Mairead Philpott was under the control of her domineering husband, she was on occasions capable of standing up to him. She had, however, chosen to support his plan to set fire to the house and blame it on her husband's former mistress.

"This was not a spur of the moment plan," Thomas said. "It was one that had been carefully and deliberately thought out.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...tt-loses-appeal-manslaughter-house-fire-derby

 

[Tortoise]

Shauna played it well. Keep your mouth shut, lie, deny and pretend you had nothing to do with it. Her tactic served her well. I always said she was the smarter of the two and I am proved correct. The survivor instinct that got her this far and will undoubtedly serve her well in prison. She is a dangerous piece of work and we have not heard the last of her.

What goes around comes around and the "coming around" part may take a little while but it will come. Of this I am sure.

I'm not happy with her sentence but it's the best to be expected. I was always worried about her. She is cunning and deceitful. She didn't get away with it but she almost did.

I'll never forget this case. It is sad and haunting. Such a beautiful life cut short by two sick and twisted cowards.

Whereas had I been on the jury I would have said if Shauna is going to sit there and deny absolutely everything, not give me one teeny tiny reason to think she may have not intended this death to happen, then she doesn't deserve to have my reasonable doubt that she played a lesser role. I would have said that as we have found she was an equal partner in the intended kidnap of Becky, then there is only a miniscule chance that they intended to leave Becky alive, not worthy of considering as a reasonable possibility, in view of the fact that she was brutally murdered and chopped up while they laughed about it.

 

[cottonweaver]

Well, guys.

Haven't been able to follow this afternoon since page 23, so don't know all your thoughts and the impacts I am guessing you have discussed since but
having just found it is a minimum of 33 years for NM - I am satisfied with that. ( In my mind I had set 30 minimum just cause I thought he should be inside 'til late 50's, preferably early 60's even though I thought they would not be able to give whole life based on the dismemberment. )

As for SH, not satisfied with 17 years and the rest concurrent because she is obviously only going to do half I suppose and she has all her young life ahead of her. Still, with those verdicts I just assume that the Judge had his hands tied. ( ie. I don't know the comparable sentences for manslaughter in these kinds of circumstances, but am assuming any more would be vulnerable to successful Appeal. )

Now off to read whole of UK&Eire and then all your posts this afternoon!

 

[ColourPurple]

I had missed this from the judge re SH's sentence:


The judge noted that Nathan Matthews began to exercise increasing control over her life - controlling when she smoke or what she ate, and using violence against her "on a number of occasions".

The judge chose not to impose a discretionary life sentence, saying "her involvement in these offences was very much a product of the nature of her relationship with Nathan Matthews"

http://www.itv.com/news/west/2015-11-13/becky-watts-the-sentences-in-full/

Ah I bet that's why the family are less happy with SH's sentence. There's no doubt NM could be controlling but both NM's mother and grandmother commented on how it was SH who always got her own way, with AG pointing out that Sh bossed NM about.