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

[ColourPurple]

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.

Yup whether through nature or nurture SH had animal cunning in spades.

 

[epiphany]

Perhaps, perhaps...Judge viewed SH as being successfully Groomed by Nathan, beginning at age 14.

There is truth in that ^^ imo Nathan did groom her...then, when she was in her late teens, he was no longer as sexually turned on by her, needed younger teens (and his near daily fix of school-girl *advertiser censored*) and she became his conduit

I've read enough during the trial that indicates that Nathan is very sexually attracted to young females and has been for quite some time. This is the dirty secret Nathan was keeping and will keep from his Mum

 

[Tortoise]

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.

didn't we always say there must have been some purpose to her complaints about NM even while she was denying she had done this for him.

 

[Tortoise]

I know their child hasn't been referred to for obvious reasons, but I haven't heard one single reference from anyone, not in the trial or from family statements, about how they were as parents.

It's hard to think that he is a father to a little girl. Did they take her to the park, do normal things like reading/singing to her and cuddling her, or was she towed around from house to house and put in front of a TV. If the latter, why didn't anyone think there was anything abnormal to note about their lifestyle, seems they were preoccupied with *advertiser censored* and hunting down teenage schoolgirls.

 

[soozieqtips]

Just caught the BBC news where they said it was very unusual to see a senior judge break down with emotion. It was during the last 5 seconds when he was paying tribute to Becky's family for the dignity they'd shown during the trial that he became overwhelmed. Just hearing that made me well up too. I hope AG and DG can get through this. Once the prison visits start there will be more feelings to deal with. I feel for her. She still loves her son, but hates what he's done. The fact he was loving towards her (as she said) must make it worse.

 

[ColourPurple]

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

Very similar. I guess at least they can't use that reason for an appeal for SH, as it's already been taken into account.

 

[ColourPurple]

didn't we always say there must have been some purpose to her complaints about NM even while she was denying she had done this for him.

We sure did. She hedged her bets and it paid off!

 

[KatieLH]

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/

Completely respect what the judge has said here. I know we all have very differing opinions on SH's character, but the jury and participants in the trial were obviously privy to a lot more information than we were so I stand behind their decisions completely. I found it really moving that the judge was so emotional at the end of his speech, and I am so happy that justice has been served and that Becky's family at least have the comfort that NM and SH will be out of their lives and in a place where they cannot hurt others for hopefully a long, long time. But at the end of this trial, the five or whatever weeks, it feels like a small comfort? I know this is a pretty good outcome, but I just feel sad. It's almost like during the trial you become so focused on every small detail and discussing/viewing the case in a neutral, logical way, and then at the end when the trial is over it just hits you all over again that a young girl lost her life in a really horrific way and her family and friends will feel the weight and pain of that forever, and even the best possible outcome legally will not change that. Ahh I don't mean to sound miserable but it's just so sad I just hope that Becky is finally allowed to rest in peace, and that her family are left alone to work through their pain and grief in which ever way works best for them.

 

[ColourPurple]

Perhaps, perhaps...Judge viewed SH as being successfully Groomed by Nathan, beginning at age 14.

There is truth in that ^^ imo Nathan did groom her...then, when she was in her late teens, he was no longer as sexually turned on by her, needed younger teens (and his near daily fix of school-girl *advertiser censored*) and she became his conduit

I've read enough during the trial that indicates that Nathan is very sexually attracted to young females and has been for quite some time. This is the dirty secret Nathan was keeping and will keep from his Mum

BIB I'd agree with that. She embraced, encouraged and in fact joined him in his attraction to teenage girls, rather than lose him to one.

 

[ColourPurple]

I know their child hasn't been referred to for obvious reasons, but I haven't heard one single reference from anyone, not in the trial or from family statements, about how they were as parents.

It's hard to think that he is a father to a little girl. Did they take her to the park, do normal things like reading/singing to her and cuddling her, or was she towed around from house to house and put in front of a TV. If the latter, why didn't anyone think there was anything abnormal to note about their lifestyle, seems they were preoccupied with *advertiser censored* and hunting down teenage schoolgirls.

Retribution was asked her opinion of SH as a mother and whether she loved her child. Now the trial is over, I think it is OK to repeat that, without going into detail she said NM was always SH's priority.

 

[YidArmyRach]

Retribution was asked her opinion of SH as a mother and whether she loved her child. Now the trial is over, I think it is OK to repeat that, without going into detail she said NM was always SH's priority.

From what I remember of Retribution's posts about SH and NM, I have to say that everything she said about them appears to have been truthful (not gossip), and has been backed up either in court evidence or by others in FB posts and in the media. I think, had she felt able to stay around, we would have had more info to base our ideas and opinions on, and probably wouldn't have been so worried about SH getting away with this crime. I think she knew all of the information that wasn't allowed to be reported from the court.

I just wish she was still around, as she could now tell us the things she had to keep quiet whilst the trial was going ahead.

 

[Ironside]

I was expecting NM to get 30 years minimum and SH 12 years so the sentences seemed alright me. NM probably won't get out ever "obviously" and through the trial I was worried SH would get off totally. Her life will never be normal again.

That UK and Eire page is full of a bunch of psychos! It was useful for the court reports but there are some seriously sadistic people on it.

 

[Tortoise]

I'm contemplating whether in a roundabout way this was a crime against Anjie, in NM's mind.

His intense feelings of rage and rejection for her raising Becky and not him, that he couldn't ever let her know about because he may lose her love. So remove and smash the object of Anjie's love and attention and focus.

Or was it a sexual urge that took over him? I cannot forget the judge's comment about inexplicable things that happened to her body. The ripped gusset, the removed tampon perhaps, or the slash wound across her chest.

 

[Cherwell]

That UK and Eire page is full of a bunch of psychos! It was useful for the court reports but there are some seriously sadistic people on it.

Oh, it was dreadful, and the ignorance that accompanied it was frightening too. I had to give up visiting the page, I couldn't stand it.

 

[iclaudia]

I was expecting NM to get 30 years minimum and SH 12 years so the sentences seemed alright me. NM probably won't get out ever "obviously" and through the trial I was worried SH would get off totally. Her life will never be normal again.

That UK and Eire page is full of a bunch of psychos! It was useful for the court reports but there are some seriously sadistic people on it.

Totally agree. Lynch mobs.

 

[Edinlass]

Don't know if this photo has been shown here...can see SH's bump.

 

[soozieqtips]

Did I miss SH explain why she bought two stun guns?

 

[skibaboo]

Totally agree. Lynch mobs.

Tbf I've seen much worse. And that's why even though I may join a FB page related to a case, I don't often read many comments, unless something interesting is pointed out. It just makes me more misanthropic than I already am....

 

[iclaudia]

Did I miss SH explain why she bought two stun guns?

IIRC both of them said that NM had bought them and that although her name was used (was it her other name, SP?) the general consensus was that she hadn't been the one to purchase them. I could be wrong though.. ? I think she said she had no idea they were stun guns although she may have seen them around and just thought they were torches.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Tbf I've seen much worse. And that's why even though I may join a FB page related to a case, I don't often read many comments, unless something interesting is pointed out. It just makes me more misanthropic than I already am....

How are you feeling about the sentences now, Skibs? Thought you were gonna blow a gasket earlier lol!

I've worked out SH could be eligible for parole in September 2023 and that feels too soon, though I also don't feel especially outraged (mulled wine is helping me...). As for NM, 33 years will do me, I doubt he'll leave alive somehow.

My biggest fear is that they will appeal, and the family will have to live it all again.