News / Crime
Life in prison for Becky Watts killer
Nathan Matthews has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 33 years for the murder of Becky Watts.
Shauna Hoare has been sent to prison for 17 years for her part in Becky’s death.
“The deceit of the family was particularly cruel and unusual” said Mr Justice Dingemans as he passed sentence, adding that he was “sure the kidnap was planned for a sexual purpose”.
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In unprecedented scenes, the judge’s voice broke with emotion and he appeared to cry as he thanked Becky’s family for the dignified way in which they conducted themselves throughout the trial.
“Hearing the evidence during the trial has been difficult for anyone, but it is plain to see that it has been an immense burden for the family,” he said, halting on occasions and struggling to get the final few words out.
Matthews denied murdering Becky, but admitted manslaughter – claiming he killed her by accident in a botched plan to kidnap her and “teach her a lesson” for the way she treated his mother.
The prosecution painted a picture of a man with an “unhealthy obsession” with teenage girls who hatched a “sexually motivated” plan with his partner to kidnap and murder the teenager, which ended in him cutting her up with a circular saw to hide the remains.
Hoare denied murder too. She was found guilty of manslaughter, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice and preventing a lawful burial.
James Ireland, 23, and Donovan Demetrius, 29, were acquitted of assisting an offender.
Donovan’s brother Karl Demitrius, 29, and his partner Jaydene Parsons, 23, both of Barton Court, admitted assisting an offender. They will be sentenced at a later date.
The jury were sent out on Wednesday morning to consider a verdict and returned their decision after just three-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
Becky’s disappearance last February triggered the largest missing persons investigation ever carried out by the Avon and Somerset police. It ended 12 days after she went missing from her home in Crown Hill, St George, when her body was finally discovered.
The body had been taken back to Matthews’ and Hoare’s home in Cotton Mill Lane, Barton Hill, and was later dismembered into eight pieces.
Matthews enlisted the help of Karl Demitrius and his partner Parson who arranged for the body to be moved into the garden shed of their home 80 metres away in Barton Court.
Mr Justice Dingemans said Matthews’ explanation that he was going to kidnap Becky and take her into the woods to teach her respect was “frankly absurd”.
Before sentencing, Becky Watts’ dad Darren Galsworthy said that her death haunts his dreams and waking moments and that his family will never understand why this has happened to them.
Darren’s victim impact statement was read to the court by Becky’s uncle, Sam Galsworthy. It continued: “Becky was so small and fragile, she never stood a chance.”
The victim statement of Becky’s mum Tanya Watts was read by a family liaison officer: “It was always Becky who liked us all to be together… now it feels like her death is dividing us.”
She added: “It’s left us with a lifetime of emptiness, continuing nightmares of her last moments and a grave to visit.”
Matthews looked like he was crying in the dock, rocking back and forth as the victim impact statements were read out. Hoare sat upright showing no emotion and staring straight ahead.
Many members of the jury were in tears, with eight returning to the court to hear the sentencing. Some of Becky’s family were wearing badges of her face and light blue ribbons.