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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Life for pregnant woman's killer | Life for pregnant woman's killer |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| A man who shot dead a pregnant woman in a "ruthless execution" after a long-running dispute between neighbours has been jailed for life. | A man who shot dead a pregnant woman in a "ruthless execution" after a long-running dispute between neighbours has been jailed for life. |
| Thomas Hughes, 40, of Stonells Road in Battersea, south-west London, shot Krystal Hart, 22, twice in the head at her flat in Belleville Road, Battersea. | Thomas Hughes, 40, of Stonells Road in Battersea, south-west London, shot Krystal Hart, 22, twice in the head at her flat in Belleville Road, Battersea. |
| Hughes was said to have killed Miss Hart last April in revenge for the row. | Hughes was said to have killed Miss Hart last April in revenge for the row. |
| Ordering Hughes to serve at least 30 years, Old Bailey judge Anthony Morris said it was "a truly evil act". | |
| 'Neighbour from hell' | 'Neighbour from hell' |
| On Thursday Hughes was found guilty of murder and possessing a firearm with intent on Good Friday last year. | On Thursday Hughes was found guilty of murder and possessing a firearm with intent on Good Friday last year. |
| Aftab Jafferjee, prosecuting, said: "The killing took place against a background of a long-running and ugly neighbour dispute that had been festering for some months. | Aftab Jafferjee, prosecuting, said: "The killing took place against a background of a long-running and ugly neighbour dispute that had been festering for some months. |
| "It can only be described as an execution." | "It can only be described as an execution." |
| Miss Hart, who was two months pregnant when killed, had lived in her housing association flat for about a year but soon after moving in she fell out with her downstairs "neighbour from hell", Angie Brewer, 53, the court heard. | Miss Hart, who was two months pregnant when killed, had lived in her housing association flat for about a year but soon after moving in she fell out with her downstairs "neighbour from hell", Angie Brewer, 53, the court heard. |
| A mother speaks of her grief | A mother speaks of her grief |
| Jurors heard Hughes, a loner who lived in a nearby dilapidated house with his 81-year-old, wheelchair-bound mother, was besotted with Miss Brewer. | Jurors heard Hughes, a loner who lived in a nearby dilapidated house with his 81-year-old, wheelchair-bound mother, was besotted with Miss Brewer. |
| He carried out the killing hours after Miss Hart's fiance, David Siveter, had noted down his car registration during a row in the front garden with Miss Brewer. | He carried out the killing hours after Miss Hart's fiance, David Siveter, had noted down his car registration during a row in the front garden with Miss Brewer. |
| Judge Anthony Morris said: "It was a ruthless execution and a truly evil act. | Judge Anthony Morris said: "It was a ruthless execution and a truly evil act. |
| "You were devoted to Angie Brewer and would do anything you could to ingratiate yourself to her. | "You were devoted to Angie Brewer and would do anything you could to ingratiate yourself to her. |
| "You have a chilling lack of remorse for what you did. | "You have a chilling lack of remorse for what you did. |
| "You told Angela Brewer after the shooting that you did it for her. You sent her a text message saying 'no one should have hurt you like that'. | "You told Angela Brewer after the shooting that you did it for her. You sent her a text message saying 'no one should have hurt you like that'. |
| CCTV footage | CCTV footage |
| "It is a sign of your warped mentality that you took the rantings of that demented woman seriously...and thought you would curry favour with her by carrying out those threats yourself." | "It is a sign of your warped mentality that you took the rantings of that demented woman seriously...and thought you would curry favour with her by carrying out those threats yourself." |
| The court heard there was ongoing county court action between the two women who had both installed CCTV to gather evidence against each other. | The court heard there was ongoing county court action between the two women who had both installed CCTV to gather evidence against each other. |
| After the row, Brewer called the police to complain and then telephoned Hughes, who later returned with a gun. | After the row, Brewer called the police to complain and then telephoned Hughes, who later returned with a gun. |
| Angela Brewer was friends with Hughes | Angela Brewer was friends with Hughes |
| The court heard that he was looking for Mr Siveter and when told he was not home banged at the door and demanded Miss Hart open it, calling out: "Come out bitch." | The court heard that he was looking for Mr Siveter and when told he was not home banged at the door and demanded Miss Hart open it, calling out: "Come out bitch." |
| Miss Brewer, who could be heard pleading "No" on CCTV footage, became hysterical as shots were fired, the court was told. | Miss Brewer, who could be heard pleading "No" on CCTV footage, became hysterical as shots were fired, the court was told. |
| Miss Hart, died instantly when she was shot through the head. A second bullet was fired into her temple after she collapsed into her doorway. | Miss Hart, died instantly when she was shot through the head. A second bullet was fired into her temple after she collapsed into her doorway. |
| During the trial jurors were shown the CCTV, in which the sound of two gunshots could be heard and Hughes could be seen hurrying away. | During the trial jurors were shown the CCTV, in which the sound of two gunshots could be heard and Hughes could be seen hurrying away. |
| After the sentencing Eve Warren, a family friend, read out a witness impact statement on behalf of Miss Hart's mother, Deborah Penfold. | After the sentencing Eve Warren, a family friend, read out a witness impact statement on behalf of Miss Hart's mother, Deborah Penfold. |
| "I feel that justice has been done but for me and my family the grief is just beginning," she said. | "I feel that justice has been done but for me and my family the grief is just beginning," she said. |
| "We have lost a daughter and a friend as well as the promise of a first grandchild. | "We have lost a daughter and a friend as well as the promise of a first grandchild. |
| "I have a mother's memory's of Krystal, her humour, her kindness and her great sense of fun." | "I have a mother's memory's of Krystal, her humour, her kindness and her great sense of fun." |