In Britain the man who murdered schoolgirl Tia Sharp has been jailed for a minimum of 38 years. Stuart Hazell dramatically changed his plea at the Old Bailey yesterday and admitted killing the 12-year-old.
Her body was found in the loft of the house Hazell shared with her grandmother in south London last August.
Passing sentence, judge Mr Justice Nicol told Hazell "Tia was a sparky girl who was full of life but you took that life from her. All that lay ahead of her - a career, loves and family of her own - will now never be. And the loss of her has been devastating for her mother, her father and all her relatives and friends. The tragedy of their loss and her death is because of your act in murdering Tia Sharp. You are responsible".
Gasps and cries of "yes" could be heard from Tia's family as Hazell was taken down from the dock. Earlier, he sat forward in his seat and stared intently, as the judge told him there was "no doubt" he had developed a sexual interest in Tia.
He referred to a picture of Tia, believed to have been taken after her death, which he said "further degraded that young girl". The judge said there was "no pathological evidence" she had been sexually assaulted, although "it cannot be discounted".
"I cannot say for certain that there was a sexual motive for the killing," he added. "It is not a case where a whole life tariff can be imposed."
Aggravating factors in the case
Mr. Justice Nicol said there were a number of other "notable and serious" aggravating factors in the case.
They included Tia's age, the "gross breach of trust" by Hazell and the concealment of her body, which was found wrapped in bin bags and a sheet in New Addington, south London, last August.
Tia's family left court without speaking to the crowd of reporters who had gathered outside, although some of her relatives could be heard shouting "Nowhere near long enough" and "RIP Tia".
Witness statements described the torment her parents endured after learning Hazell had killed their daughter.
Her mother, Natalie Sharp, said she has "so many questions" for Hazell, adding: "Sometimes I feel pity. Sometimes I want to hurt him." Tia's father, Steven Carter, said Hazell should be hanged. "In my opinion (a prison sentence) will not be enough," he told reporters outside court.
The judge said Hazell would be given only "the most modest of credit" for changing his plea to guilty on the 5th day of his trial.
He told him "Your counsel says that you wished to avoid causing further distress to Tia's family. That is very commendable, but they have had to endure four days of a very public trial.
"It was necessary for the prosecution to lay out for the jury your sexual interest in Tia and for the jury to see the photograph of Tia naked. Your plea of guilty has spared the family none of that. It may be the first act of remorse, as your counsel says, but because it comes so late I am afraid it will earn you only the most modest of credit."
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola, of the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said he was "very pleased" with today's sentence.
"A minimum of 38 years is satisfying for both the investigating team and Tia's friends and family. Hazell will have a very long time in prison to think about what he has done" he added.
