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Man convicted of hammer murders | Man convicted of hammer murders |
(20 minutes later) | |
A man who battered to death his former girlfriend and her two children with a hammer has been convicted of murdering them at the family's Manchester home. | A man who battered to death his former girlfriend and her two children with a hammer has been convicted of murdering them at the family's Manchester home. |
Pierre Williams, 33, from Birmingham, had denied killing Beverley Samuels, 36, her daughter Kesha Wizzart, 18, and son Fred Wizzart, 13. | Pierre Williams, 33, from Birmingham, had denied killing Beverley Samuels, 36, her daughter Kesha Wizzart, 18, and son Fred Wizzart, 13. |
He was also convicted of sex assaults on Mrs Samuels and her daughter. | He was also convicted of sex assaults on Mrs Samuels and her daughter. |
Manchester Crown Court was told blood from each of his victims was found on a pair of his shorts. | Manchester Crown Court was told blood from each of his victims was found on a pair of his shorts. |
Giving evidence, Williams had blamed "a hooded figure" for the attacks. | Giving evidence, Williams had blamed "a hooded figure" for the attacks. |
Mrs Samuels, a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary, was sexually assaulted in July 2007 before being struck with at least seven blows to the head. | Mrs Samuels, a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary, was sexually assaulted in July 2007 before being struck with at least seven blows to the head. |
Kesha had appeared on ITV's Young Stars In Their Eyes class="" href="/1/hi/england/manchester/7271339.stm">Girl who touched lives | |
Her daughter Kesha had her hands tied behind her back before she was killed in the same manner. | Her daughter Kesha had her hands tied behind her back before she was killed in the same manner. |
Mrs Samuels' teenage son was found on the floor in the same bedroom as his mother. | Mrs Samuels' teenage son was found on the floor in the same bedroom as his mother. |
The court was told that Williams, of Selly Oak, had a history of sexual violence against women. | The court was told that Williams, of Selly Oak, had a history of sexual violence against women. |
One prosecution witness, a former girlfriend of Williams, told jurors that on one occasion he had throttled her until she passed out before raping her. | One prosecution witness, a former girlfriend of Williams, told jurors that on one occasion he had throttled her until she passed out before raping her. |
On another occasion he forced his way into her home telling her he had a gun. | On another occasion he forced his way into her home telling her he had a gun. |
"I did think he was going to kill me that night," she said. | "I did think he was going to kill me that night," she said. |
In court Kesha Wizzart was described as a hardworking teenager who intended to read law at university and wanted to be a barrister. | In court Kesha Wizzart was described as a hardworking teenager who intended to read law at university and wanted to be a barrister. |
"Execution-style" killings | "Execution-style" killings |
In 2004 she appeared on ITV's Young Stars In Their Eyes singing Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart. | In 2004 she appeared on ITV's Young Stars In Their Eyes singing Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart. |
Ray Wigglesworth QC, for the prosecution, described the killings as "execution-style" to satisfy a perverted sexual pleasure. | Ray Wigglesworth QC, for the prosecution, described the killings as "execution-style" to satisfy a perverted sexual pleasure. |
Just hours before the murders, Williams was seen socialising with two female friends in Manchester and described as "his usual cheery self". | Just hours before the murders, Williams was seen socialising with two female friends in Manchester and described as "his usual cheery self". |
The court was told he met Mrs Samuels in the summer of 2005 - a year after she broke up with the father of her children's father. | The court was told he met Mrs Samuels in the summer of 2005 - a year after she broke up with the father of her children's father. |
Williams' year-long relationship with her was described by the prosecution as disjointed and intermittent. | Williams' year-long relationship with her was described by the prosecution as disjointed and intermittent. |
The jury of seven men and five women took just over four hours to find Williams guilty of the murders and sexual assaults. | The jury of seven men and five women took just over four hours to find Williams guilty of the murders and sexual assaults. |
However, when the first verdict was read out he scuffled with guards in the dock and had to be restrained by three officers. | However, when the first verdict was read out he scuffled with guards in the dock and had to be restrained by three officers. |
He was taken to the cells shouting "I'm innocent." | He was taken to the cells shouting "I'm innocent." |