UK - (Christopher Halliwell) Rebecca Godden-Edwards, 21, Swindon, 27 Dec 2002

[Alyce]

You missed something, Andrew.

Jon Kay @jonkay01
Christopher Halliwell grinned and then laughed as the guilty verdict returned. Becky's family cheered in public gallery. Parents in tears.
3:21 PM - 19 Sep 2016

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-bristol-37391457

Hhhhmmm, someone wasn't paying attention !

 

[jessie]

This was legal history in the making. Never before - to the press bench’s knowledge - had a convicted killer defended himself in a murder trial.

He had sacked his legal team at a preliminary hearing.


http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-09-19/halliwell-a-killers-defence/

That is such a good article, recommend reading it. Thanks Alyce.

 

[Alyce]

CPS statement

"In the course of his defence, Christopher Halliwell dismissed his legal team and then maintained that he had not been involved in Becky’s murder. This meant we could ask the court to reverse the ruling which prevented the jury from being told about his confession.

full statement at the link

http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2016/09/chri...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[CoverMeCagney]

:yesss:

So pleased for Becky's family, and Fulcher too. I won't be at all surprised if he tries to appeal though....

Thanks to Alyce, Legally Blonde and everyone else who has diligently posted everything we need to know, you are all stars!

And welcome to Mellowmelly, glad you found us and hope you'll stick around for other cases! The UK index is in my sig link, we all try and keep it up to date so things don't get lost.

Good work UK, another baddie banged up long time :uk:

 

[Legally Bland]

A few snips from Alyce's link:
__________

But when the skeletal figure of the 52 year-old lifer appeared in the witness box, he was a rambling, incoherent, ranting mess.

A bore. A stupid man with a high self-opinion.

[...]

In court, he affected the aloof air of a counsel. On the first two days he even wore a suit. Sucking the arms of his spectacles, looking skyward in contemplation of some great legal conundrum.

Then he would open his mouth. And realise he was hopelessly out of his depth. He would fumble about, lose his place. He didn’t serve his outline defence statement - a legal requirement.“I’ll keep my powder dry’” he had said.

But it was when Halliwell gave evidence that the full extent of his stupidity became clear.

[...]

Halliwell cut a deeply unimpressive figure in the box. He argued over minor irrelevant points. Did he have a Hackney Carriage licence in one year or another? What year did he have a red car?

[...]

Christopher Halliwell did not persuade anyone in the court of anything. He will never see liberty. His fellow inmates may be bored by his tedious and smug company for many years to come.


http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-09-19/halliwell-a-killers-defence/

 

[Mellowmelly]

I think his victims would be having the last laugh if they could see him being found guilty , I hope this can bring some sort of closure to the families of the young lives he took x

 

[Cherwell]

Jessica Culley ‏@jessicatculley
@rupertevelyn don't be surprised if there are more bodies to be found yet - he was well known in swindon to cruise nightclubs and hurt girls

 

[Legally Bland]

It was the biggest gamble of the detective’s professional life.

Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher stood face-to-face with killer Chris Halliwell in the Wiltshire countryside, pleading with the minicab driver to tell him where he had abandoned a missing woman.

In doing so, the detective was throwing away the rulebook. Ignoring advice from a deputy, breaching protocols and regulations. Det Supt Fulcher got the answer he was so desperate for. Halliwell confessed, yes, he had murdered Sian O’Callaghan.

http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-09-19/halliwell-the-detectives-gamble/

 

[Legally Bland]

[video=twitter;777882926058962944]https://twitter.com/itvwestcountry/status/777882926058962944[/video]

 

[Legally Bland]

I was wondering how long it would be before we heard from Prof David Wilson. Don't get me wrong, I like him, but he always seems to be the go-to man for quotes on criminal psychology.
________________

In the mid-80s, while he was in prison for an unrelated offence, Halliwell asked an inmate how many women you needed to kill before being considered a serial killer.

It can also be revealed that, in common with many violent sexual offenders, Halliwell had a fascination with hardcore , including child abuse and bestiality. Computer search terms he used showed he had an interest in murder, violent sex and rape.

Some experts are surprised at the time lapse between the two murders and wonder if there could be others. David Wilson, professor of criminology at Birmingham City University and a former prison governor, said: “I truly believe Christopher Halliwell has been offending for a very, very long time.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/19/chris-halliwell-found-guilty-becky-godden-murder

 

[jessie]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Fulcher got full absolution now? That it were accepted what he did was necessary and right in the

circumstances and how wrong it was that he was forced to leave the police service. I only hope his life has been good since.

 

[Alyce]

Just caught Becky's mother on Sky, giving her , understandably, very emotional statement to the press outside court.

Very good to see she gave so much recognition and thanks to Mr Fulcher for what he did for her daughter.

 

[jessie]

I was wondering how long it would be before we heard from Prof David Wilson. Don't get me wrong, I like him, but he always seems to be the go-to man for quotes on criminal psychology.
________________

In the mid-80s, while he was in prison for an unrelated offence, Halliwell asked an inmate how many women you needed to kill before being considered a serial killer.

It can also be revealed that, in common with many violent sexual offenders, Halliwell had a fascination with hardcore , including child abuse and bestiality. Computer search terms he used showed he had an interest in murder, violent sex and rape.

Some experts are surprised at the time lapse between the two murders and wonder if there could be others. David Wilson, professor of criminology at Birmingham City University and a former prison governor, said: “I truly believe Christopher Halliwell has been offending for a very, very long time.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/19/chris-halliwell-found-guilty-becky-godden-murder

So he was in to child abuse too? Given what a disturbed, sick individual he is I wonder whether he might admit to more murders
now, because I'm pretty sure these weren't his only offences.

His sick mind may have a desire to be acknowledged as a 'serial killer' now. May believe it will give him some sort of status in prison?

I hope they find more of his victims, and with advances in forensics we won't have to tolerate another trial like this. OMOO

 

[Cherwell]

Was he ruled out as the killer of Melanie Hall? Only it seems to fit his MO.

 

[Mellowmelly]

:yesss:

So pleased for Becky's family, and Fulcher too. I won't be at all surprised if he tries to appeal though....

Thanks to Alyce, Legally Blonde and everyone else who has diligently posted everything we need to know, you are all stars!

And welcome to Mellowmelly, glad you found us and hope you'll stick around for other cases! The UK index is in my sig link, we all try and keep it up to date so things don't get lost.

Good work UK, another baddie banged up long time :uk:

Thank you covermecagney 👍🏾, I will take a look at your profile 👍🏾

 

[bos]

Will add to the thanks for Alyce & other twitter updates. I'm pretty sure that he's committed other murders although I was pretty certain that he could be involved in the Sally Ann John disappearance/murder & Wiltshire police subsequently arrested three other men who I believe are on bail with no charge. I have mixed feelings as to whether any further possible victims should be actively sought by the police given the fact he is incarcerated for a long time already & the money involved in getting such cases to court is huge. Starve him of the oxygen of publicity, let him fade into obscurity for years & his need for recognition of his" superiority" will cause him to drop comments/boasts that might give further info.

 

[bos]

I imagine he has been excluded from the Melanie Hall murder, they have a DNA profile recovered from where her body was found that I'm pretty sure would have registered as a match if it'd been someone on the database.

 

[jessie]

Just been a good report about this whole business on Radio 4 BBC which included Beccy's mother's statement.

I'm not sure I agree with you bos in your above post.

I feel that the families and the victims themselves demand justice, and that the financial implications should never be a consideration

for further investigation. I can't understand CH's mind and wouldn't want him to feel he 'gains' by more victims - but if Hell exists

I'd like to think he suffers for each and every one.

 

[wfgodot]

WS - UK - Christopher Halliwell, suspected serial killer

 

[Cherwell]

Halliwell has been given a whole of life sentence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37450337