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| Man convicted of hammer murders | Man convicted of hammer murders |
| (about 5 hours 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 killings 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. | 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. | "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 | 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." | "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. |
| 'Cold-blooded killer' | 'Cold-blooded killer' |
| Police believe other women may have suffered at his hands and are urging them to come forward. | Police believe other women may have suffered at his hands and are urging them to come forward. |
| Speaking after the sentencing Det Supt Ian Foster said the streets of Manchester and Birmingham are "safer places" because Williams was now behind bars. | Speaking after the sentencing Det Supt Ian Foster said the streets of Manchester and Birmingham are "safer places" because Williams was now behind bars. |
| "Pierre is an arrogant, dangerous man and the streets of Manchester and Birmingham are safer tonight because he is behind bars. | "Pierre is an arrogant, dangerous man and the streets of Manchester and Birmingham are safer tonight because he is behind bars. |
| Pierre Williams scuffled with guards in court"I suspect there will be a number of women who have suffered at his hands. | Pierre Williams scuffled with guards in court"I suspect there will be a number of women who have suffered at his hands. |
| "He's your typical cold-blooded killer. He does not take no for an answer, he does not accept rejection. This was a cold, calculated attack." | "He's your typical cold-blooded killer. He does not take no for an answer, he does not accept rejection. This was a cold, calculated attack." |
| A former girlfriend of Williams told jurors that on one occasion he had throttled her until she passed out before raping her. | 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. |
| The ripples of their deaths have permeated far and beyond our imagination. Victims' family statement Father's 'pointless life' | The ripples of their deaths have permeated far and beyond our imagination. Victims' family statement Father's 'pointless life' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Terrible date' | 'Terrible date' |
| The jury of seven men and five women took just three hours and 15 minutes to find Williams guilty of the murders and sexual assaults. | The jury of seven men and five women took just three hours and 15 minutes 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." |
| The judge refused to allow him back into the dock to hear his sentence following his outburst. | The judge refused to allow him back into the dock to hear his sentence following his outburst. |
| Outside court, police read a statement from the victims' family. | Outside court, police read a statement from the victims' family. |
| "The loss of Beverley, Kesha and Fred has been, and will continue to be, the most traumatic experience of our lives," it read. | "The loss of Beverley, Kesha and Fred has been, and will continue to be, the most traumatic experience of our lives," it read. |
| "The ripples of their deaths have permeated far and beyond our imagination. | "The ripples of their deaths have permeated far and beyond our imagination. |
| "Our whole lives now surround that terrible date. Birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries are all now lost to memories." | "Our whole lives now surround that terrible date. Birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries are all now lost to memories." |