GUILTY UK - Louise Smith, 16, Havant, Hampshire, 8 May 2020 *Arrest*

[Alyce]

Ha - me too Lucy - saw the headline and thought he was putting in an appeal. I think an increase in sentence is needed - 25 years was really not enough for what he did.

 

[Marg from Oz]

I had a horrible thought that they were going to reduce his sentence. Then I read the article. Hopefully they will increase his sentence. MOO

 

[Sillybilly]

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[Stumpyaura]

Louise Smith family 'disgusted' as judges reject bid to increase Shane Mays' jail term

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

Louise Smith family 'disgusted' as judges reject bid to increase Shane Mays' jail term

What a terrible shame, he deserved a lot longer than what he got for what he did to poor Louise. JMO

From article

Ms Welstead saw she saw Mays ‘smirk’ on the videolink as the judgment was passed, just as he did at sentencing in December.

 

[Stumpyaura]

What a terrible shame, he deserved a lot longer than what he got for what he did to poor Louise. JMO

From article

Ms Welstead saw she saw Mays ‘smirk’ on the videolink as the judgment was passed, just as he did at sentencing in December.

I agree. It seems that the judges couldn't agree that there was a sexual assault element to the crime despite what he did to her. He also smirked as he was given the original sentence. Must be so hard for the family going through such appeals

 

[Luwin]

A teenager killed in a "sexually-motivated" murder did not receive appropriate support after reporting being raped, a review has found.

Louise Smith, 16, was found dead at Havant Thicket, Hampshire, on 21 May - 13 days after she went missing.

Shane Mays, 30, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years in December, following a trial.

Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership said Covid-19 restrictions may have prevented Louise getting help.

Its report found Louise went to Hampshire Constabulary to report being raped by "one of her peers" a year before her death.

However, when officers told her no further action would be taken over the allegation, there was no supporting professional there to assist her.

The report states the "impact of Covid" could have been to blame.

Louise Smith death: Covid-19 restrictions 'could have prevented appropriate support'