GUILTY UK - Lexi Draper, 3, & Scarlett Vaughan, 16 mos, murdered, Skiddaw, Rugby, Jan/Feb 2018 *GUILTY*

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10:10
Aggravating and mitigating factors
Before Mrs Justice Yip hands down her sentence, both the prosecution and defence team will get to have their say over areas such as aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.

Oliver Saxby QC will be representing the Crown Prosecution Service and Andrew Smith QC will speak on behalf of Porton.

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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Last pictures of girls together

This heartbreaking footage is the last time Lexi and Scarlett were seen alive together.

Just a few hours later, Porton would call 999 and tell an emergency call handler Lexi had stopped breathing.

Paramedics found she had been dead for some time at the family’s home in Beechwood Court.

Scarlett would live just 18 days longer before also being murdered by Porton.

LOUISE PORTON WITH HER CHILDREN JUST HOURS BEFORE LEXI WAS MURDERED

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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There's been no mention of her being pregnant that I've seen in any trial reports, apart from back in March.

 

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There's been no mention of her being pregnant that I've seen in any trial reports, apart from back in March.

It would be interesting to know exactly when she was advised that the police were going to arrest her and potentially charge her..and how that timeline links in to the pregnancy

 

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10:27
National story
This case has had national interest throughout and a large number of reporters from media outlets and radio and TV stations are here for today’s sentencing.

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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It would be nice if one of the reporters there would tweet what time it is going to happen.

 

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10:44
Family in court
Members of Louise Porton’s family are at court today, including her sister Karen - who gave evidence during the trial - and her father.

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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10:53KEY EVENT
Case called on
The case has now been called on and all parties are making their way into the courtroom.

10:57
Packed public gallery
The public gallery is packed for today’s hearing.

Porton has now made her way in to the dock wearing a pink top and is now sitting with her head in her hands.


LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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10:59
Jury return
The entire jury has returned to court to hear the sentence that will be given to Porton.

In cases such as this, jurors are given the choice to return to court to see sentence passed though it is not obligatory.


LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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Becky Johnson‏Verified account @BeckyJohnsonSky 2m2 minutes ago
At the sentencing of Louise Porton, 23, who murdered her daughters Lexi, 3, and Scarlett, 17 months old. Statement from the girls’ father is being read: “I don’t know how i will go on as I feel I have nothing to live for...Why did Louise do something so evil to our daughters?”

 

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Becky Johnson‏Verified account @BeckyJohnsonSky 45s46 seconds ago
Statement from the father of Lexi and Scarlett who were murdered by their mother Louise Porton continues “maybe if social service had listened to me they’d still be alive today... I hate Louise. No punishment will ever be enough”. Louise Porton is being sentenced today.

 

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Catherine Reid (@catreidITV) | Twitter
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Lexi and Scarlett's father Chris Draper said he is 'broken' after Louise Porton murdered the girls last year. He has revealed he has been suicidal since their death over his own guilt that he let them down @ITVCentral

 

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11:01
The public gallery is full
We have resumed from yesterday and are ready to begin the sentencing.

Louise Porton has been brought into court and a number of the jury members have returned.

The public gallery is full.

11:03KEY EVENT
'I hate Louise. No punishment will ever be enough'
Chris Draper, the children’s father, said in a statement:

I am broken. I will never be the same person. I just keep asking myself why did Louise do something o evil to my beautiful daughters.

They were just an inconvenience to you. Why did she not give them to me?

Because of Louise I will never be able to hear their voices.

Louise deprived me of my daughters. I never met Scarlett. That pain will live me forever.

I hate Louise. No punishment will ever be enough. I now have depression and anxiety.

I constantly think about the girls.


11:05
'The girls have been let down by the system' - dad
The dad’s statement continues:

Since Lexi and Scarlett died my mental health has declined.

I have regular appointments with my GP.

I am unable to go back to work.

All of these things have made day to day life difficult.

We feel that the girls have been let down by the system.

This could have been prevented. This is something I thought I would never have to write. The only comfort is that both Lexi and Scarlett are together now.

Updates as mum is sentenced for murdering her two young daughters

 

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11:05
"I am broken" - girls' dad
Nina Ellin, for the prosecution, is now reading out an impact statement from the girls’ dad, Chris Draper.

He said: “How can I put all this in to words. I am broken.

“I will never be the same person.

“I have to take each day by day but I don’t know how I can go on because I feel I have nothing to live for.”

11:07
"They were just an inconvenience to you"
Mr Draper continues: “I keep asking myself ‘why?’.

“Why did Louise do something so evil to our daughters?

“You are their mother. The person who is supposed to love them and care for them.

“They were just an inconvenience to you”

He added that he “can’t understand” why Lexi and Scarlett were killed as Louise “wanted to sleep around”

11:10
Dad never got to meet his daughter
The impact statement from Mr Draper also says: “Because of Louise I will never hear their voices or hold their hands.

“Louise stopped Lexi and Scarlett from having a dad.

“Louise has deprived me and my daughters and will have to live with that emptiness.”

Mr Draper says he never got to meet Scarlett and now that will never happen.

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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11:12KEY EVENT
"I hate Louise. No punishment will ever be enough"
Mr Draper explains that he was at court for the first day of the trial but then had to leave after details in the case began to come out.

He says, in his statement, that he feels he “let them (Lexi and Scarlett) down” by doing so.

He adds: “All my memories of Louise and Lexi and Scarlett are shattered.

“I was heartbroken when I heard she used the girls as a game.

“I hate Louise. No punishment will ever be enough as I will never get my daughters back.”

11:14
Suicidal thoughts
Mr Draper confesses that he has self-harmed and considered suicide since his daughter’s death as he “felt I had let the girls down” and “the only way out of this was to be with them”.

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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11:19
Special occasions missed
Chris Draper’s mother also made a short statement, in which she said they had been “let down by the system” and the family will miss out on many “special occasions” in the lives of Lexi and Scarlett.

11:20
Minimum term
The prosecution has previously given a document to the judge outlining where the CPS stands when it comes to the minimum sentence that Porton should receive.

Therefore Nina Ellin has finished addressing the court.

Mitigation will now be heard

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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11:21
Profound effect
Andrew Smith QC, in mitigation, has also provided a document to the judge in the same way the prosecution has.

He is now addressing the court regarding the sentencing guidelines and says: “I acknowledge and recognise the profound effect that the loss of both girls has had on those who were close to them.

“Nothing I say here is seen as detracting from the readily understandable emotion expressed to both of their deaths.”

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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11:26
Starting point
Mr Smith states the starting point in a case such as this, the starting point for the minimum term, is 30 years.

He says Porton’s age at the time of the murders - 21 years old - and her age now - 23 - are a “substantial factor in the court’s assessment of the minimum term”.

LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters

 

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11:25
No 'history of any condition or medical disorder that might explain what happened'
Andrew Smith QC, for Porton, said there was no history of any condition or medical disorder that might explain what happened.

He said:

I recognise the profound effects of the loss of Scarlett and Lexi.

It is accepted that the appropriate starting point is, in this case, one of 30 years. We accept the vulnerability of Lexi and Scarlett and the abuse of a position of trust.

He said Porton did not have a “long-held intention.”

The internet searches were made quite close to the death of Lexi.

Porton has bowed her head during Mr Smith’s submissions.

Updates as mum is sentenced for murdering her two young daughters

 

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11:28
Prospect of rehabilitation
Porton’s barrister says there must also be the “prospect” of rehabilitation “in the long term”.

He also reminds the court that Porton has no previous convictions and “against the obvious serious nature of these crimes she does not have a pattern of offending”.

11:29
Judge rises to consider sentence
The judge, Mrs Justice Amanda Yip, has now risen to consider her sentencing decision and remarks.

She will return to court shortly.


LIVE: Killer mum facing sentence over murder of two daughters