This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/7281543.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Man convicted of hammer murders | Man convicted of hammer murders |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been given three life sentences for battering to death his former girlfriend and her two children with a hammer at the family's home. | A man has been given three life sentences for battering to death his former girlfriend and her two children with a hammer at the family's home. |
| Pierre Williams, of Birmingham, denied killing Beverley Samuels, 36, her son Fred Wizzart, 13, and daughter Kesha Wizzart, 18, at Manchester Crown Court. | Pierre Williams, of Birmingham, denied killing Beverley Samuels, 36, her son Fred Wizzart, 13, and daughter Kesha Wizzart, 18, at Manchester Crown Court. |
| The 33-year-old was also convicted of sex assaults on the two women. | The 33-year-old was also convicted of sex assaults on the two women. |
| He has been ordered to serve a minimum of 38 years in prison for the killing in Manchester on 12 July last year. | He has been ordered to serve a minimum of 38 years in prison for the killing in Manchester on 12 July last year. |
| Judge Mr Justice Christopher Pitchford said: "Pierre Williams is a man with a low threshold for sexual frustration. | |
| "Just as he had in the past with a previous girlfriend, he took out his frustration by treating Beverley and her daughter with gross sexual aggression. | |
| Kesha had appeared on ITV's Young Stars In Their Eyes Girl who touched lives | |
| "Only he can know what terror and pain he inflicted upon them before they died." | |
| 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 before being struck with at least seven blows to the head. | Mrs Samuels, a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary, was sexually assaulted before being struck with at least seven blows to the head. |
| 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. |
| "Execution-style" killings | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Pierre Williams scuffled with guards in courtRay Wigglesworth QC, for the prosecution, described the killings as "execution-style" to satisfy a perverted sexual pleasure. | Pierre Williams scuffled with guards in courtRay 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. | |
| 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." |