GUILTY UK - Christina Rowe, 28, Found in River Severn, Worcester, 11 Feb 2021 *Arrest*

[Tortoise]

During a short hearing at Worcester Crown Court this morning the 24-year-old, who appeared on videolink from a hospital wearing a grey top and with bushy hair, spoke only to confirm he could hear the court and to confirm he understood proceedings when asked by Judge James Burbridge.


Prosecutor Andrew Baker explained Bryne's trial for her murder, which is alleged to have taken place between February 9 and 10, had been due to get underway this week but had been put back a week to start on Monday, December 6.

Byrne is also to be tried on the attempted murder of another person between the same dates. That person can not be identified for legal reasons.

[...]

Mr Baker added if the trial goes to the planned timetable it is expected to last around four days.

Latest on trial of man accused of murdering mum Christina Rowe

 

[Tortoise]

Worcester Crown Court 1 T20217020
Charles Byrne
Details: For Trial - Case Started - 10:28
For Trial - Case released until 11:15 - 10:48

https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/Worcester-Crown-Court.php

 

[Legally Bland]

11:30am

The judge in the case is Sir Edward Pepperall (Mr Justice Pepperall QC).

The case is being prosecuted by Michael Burrows QC.

Defending is Gurdeep Garcha QC. His junior is Charley Pattison.


11:32am

The case is just about to be called on. The case is being heard in court one, Worcester’s largest and grandest court and, until recently, the only courtroom with a secure dock.


11:39am

The court is yet to formally convene and the judge to come in. Then we will know more about what is happening with the case. There are a few people observing in the public gallery.


11:48am

Byrne admitted the manslaughter of Christina Rowe on June 1 this year.


11:54am

The defendant is in the dock with short blond hair, wearing a pale blue open-necked shirt and no glasses. There are four other people in the dock with him. He looks more heavy-set than in the photo previously used by the Press.

12:06pm

It seems the judge is about to come into court. The defendant is at the front of the dock, staring straight ahead with his hands on his knees.

12:11pm

The judge is now in court. Defence has thanked judge for time allowed for conference with client.

Worcester suitcase manslaughter/attempted murder trial begins

 

[Legally Bland]

12:18pm

Count 2 attempted murder put to defendant. It is said that between 9 February 21 and 10 Feb 21 he attempted to murder another person. The defendant said: "I plead guilty but on a basis." He pleads guilty on the basis he was seriously mentally unwell at the time of incident and the attempt to kill was fleeting. Crown's case is that he formed the intention to kill when the victim, who cannot be identifiied, had seen the body of Miss Rowe.

12:20pm

A date of Friday, March 25 is being suggested for sentence.

12:21pm

He is expected to be formally remanded in custody. He is currently in hospital.

12:26pm

A section 45A order has been made which prohibits the Press from identifying the victim in the attempted murder for her lifetime.

12:31pm

The adjournment in the case has been deemed necessary to allow the defendant's mental and psychiatric health to be properly investigated by doctors before sentence is passed. This will involve two different doctors. The judge said all options would remain on the table when he does pass sentence on March 25 next year. He said the fact he was adjourning sentence should not lead anyone to believe there would necessarily be a psychiatric disposal of the case.

12:37pm

Mr Justice Pepperall QC, speaking to the defendant directly, said: "I must adjourn the matter for sentence. It's acknowledged by both prosecution and defence that you are psychiatrically unwell and it is therefore necessary that I can properly take into account the nature and true extent of the psychiatric condition before I pass sentence.”

12:42pm

He added: "There will therefore be some delay so that defence and prosecution can properly investigate your mental health."

12:50pm

He also told Byrne: “Stand up please Mr Byrne. At a previous hearing you pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.”

Mr Justice Pepperall QC said Byrne had now also pleaded guilty to attempted murder in relation to the second individual.

The grounds of that plea to the attempted murder, read into the record, are that Byrne pleads guilty on the basis he was seriously mentally unwell at the time of incident and the intention to kill was fleeting and formed when the second victim walked into the room (and saw Christina Rowe’s body).

Worcester suitcase manslaughter/attempted murder trial begins

 

[Tortoise]

The only reference anywhere to a suitcase in this thread is that in the headlines of the article you linked today LegallyB.

I think at least they could release more details now that there is not going to be a trial.

From what I can gather he removed her body from the house and tried to dispose of it in the river, causing a search lasting several days, and he tried "fleetingly" to murder a child witness. It seems it has been accepted he has a diminished responsibility plea, and is still in hospital, but whatever that was he showed very definite consciousness of guilt and wrongdoing.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Model was warned by family about 'aggressive' ex-lover before he killed her

 

[Legally Bland]

Charles Byrne, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, will be detained in a secure hospital after he was made subject to a hybrid hospital order at Worcester Crown Court after a day-long sentence hearing.

[...]

Sir Edward Pepperall (Mr Justice Pepperall QC), sentenced Rowe to life imprisonment.

He will continue to be cared for in Ashworth Hospital but, should he be assessed as fit to leave the hospital, he can be transferred to prison.

The minimum term he must serve is 16 years before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

Worcester murder victim's catalogue of horrific injuries

From the link: Warning: this report contains details some readers may find disturbing

 

[Legally Bland]

Sentencing appeal dismissed. There's some more details in the ruling, the little girl played dead and then pretended to be asleep when he came back later

R -v Charles Byrne - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Neutral Citation Number: [2022] EWCA Crim 1630Case No: 202201238 A1 In the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)on appeal from the Crown Court at WorcesterMr Justice PepperallT20217020 9 December 2022 Before: Lady Justice MacurMr Justice HolgateandSir Nicholas Blake Between: Rex -v- Charles Byrne

www.judiciary.uk