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| Drinking binge which ended in murder | Drinking binge which ended in murder |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Chris Summers BBC News | By Chris Summers BBC News |
| Two under-age drinkers - one just 13 - have been jailed for sexually assaulting and killing a 24-year-old woman in Essex in a case that the local MP has described as "a savage indictment of Britain's binge-drinking culture". | Two under-age drinkers - one just 13 - have been jailed for sexually assaulting and killing a 24-year-old woman in Essex in a case that the local MP has described as "a savage indictment of Britain's binge-drinking culture". |
| The two boys were convicted last month | |
| Colchester in Essex is a fairly typical British town. | Colchester in Essex is a fairly typical British town. |
| On most Friday and Saturday nights large groups of young people go out drinking. | On most Friday and Saturday nights large groups of young people go out drinking. |
| On May 18 2007, one of them was Helen Maughan, a 24-year-old mother-of-two. Known to be fond of a drink, on that Friday night she took it too far, and it cost her her life. | On May 18 2007, one of them was Helen Maughan, a 24-year-old mother-of-two. Known to be fond of a drink, on that Friday night she took it too far, and it cost her her life. |
| Two days later her half-naked body was found on a towpath beside a river in the centre of Colchester. | Two days later her half-naked body was found on a towpath beside a river in the centre of Colchester. |
| Binge drinking has become a way of life especially in the last decade and it has been brought about by an attitude which the government has allowed Bob Russell MP | Binge drinking has become a way of life especially in the last decade and it has been brought about by an attitude which the government has allowed Bob Russell MP |
| She had suffered 22 separate injuries but the cause of death was given as drowning. Police launched a murder inquiry. They said there was also evidence she had been indecently assaulted. | She had suffered 22 separate injuries but the cause of death was given as drowning. Police launched a murder inquiry. They said there was also evidence she had been indecently assaulted. |
| Detectives scoured hours of CCTV footage from cameras in the town centre - Colchester has 80 council-owned cameras alone. | Detectives scoured hours of CCTV footage from cameras in the town centre - Colchester has 80 council-owned cameras alone. |
| Eventually, they found her killers, one of whom Lewis Hayward, was only 13 years old. | Eventually, they found her killers, one of whom Lewis Hayward, was only 13 years old. |
| The police said they were shocked to discover the age of the suspects, considering the injuries Miss Maughan had sustained. | The police said they were shocked to discover the age of the suspects, considering the injuries Miss Maughan had sustained. |
| Hayward, and his 16-year-old friend, Alex Young, both denied killing Miss Maughan. | Hayward, and his 16-year-old friend, Alex Young, both denied killing Miss Maughan. |
| But last month Young was convicted of murder by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court and Hayward was found guilty of manslaughter. | But last month Young was convicted of murder by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court and Hayward was found guilty of manslaughter. |
| Helen Maughan, who left behind two young children, died after a night out | Helen Maughan, who left behind two young children, died after a night out |
| Detective Superintendent Tim Wills described it as a "senseless crime". He added: "Fuelled by alcohol, this horrendous crime took place on a quiet tow-path in the middle of the night following a chance encounter with a vulnerable, and most likely drunk, young woman." | Detective Superintendent Tim Wills described it as a "senseless crime". He added: "Fuelled by alcohol, this horrendous crime took place on a quiet tow-path in the middle of the night following a chance encounter with a vulnerable, and most likely drunk, young woman." |
| Sasha Wass QC, prosecuting, said of the pair: "Because of their age they used to have to get other people to buy their alcohol for them." | Sasha Wass QC, prosecuting, said of the pair: "Because of their age they used to have to get other people to buy their alcohol for them." |
| The trial heard Miss Maughan had been drinking heavily since 2pm in pubs in Colchester. At around 10.30pm she was caught on CCTV walking towards the river with the two boys. | The trial heard Miss Maughan had been drinking heavily since 2pm in pubs in Colchester. At around 10.30pm she was caught on CCTV walking towards the river with the two boys. |
| At 11.21pm Miss Maughan was spotted on CCTV near Quilters bar. Forty minutes later the trio were then seen walking along the towpath. | At 11.21pm Miss Maughan was spotted on CCTV near Quilters bar. Forty minutes later the trio were then seen walking along the towpath. |
| Hayward lied to police about his whereabouts, but then changed his story and blamed Young for her death. | Hayward lied to police about his whereabouts, but then changed his story and blamed Young for her death. |
| Colchester is a typical British town with typical problems | Colchester is a typical British town with typical problems |
| The pair had bragged about what they had done, but apparently their friends did not believe them. | The pair had bragged about what they had done, but apparently their friends did not believe them. |
| Police said Maughan often went out drinking in Colchester and had been out alone drinking on the night she died. | Police said Maughan often went out drinking in Colchester and had been out alone drinking on the night she died. |
| The boys were both from dysfunctional families and Miss Maughan was a complete stranger to them prior to that night. | The boys were both from dysfunctional families and Miss Maughan was a complete stranger to them prior to that night. |
| The Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, Bob Russell, said Miss Maughan had been "brutally murdered" and described the case as a indictment of Britain's culture of binge drinking. | The Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, Bob Russell, said Miss Maughan had been "brutally murdered" and described the case as a indictment of Britain's culture of binge drinking. |
| He said: "We have had 20 years of governments which have allowed wall-to-wall drinking. | He said: "We have had 20 years of governments which have allowed wall-to-wall drinking. |
| "Binge drinking has become a way of life especially in the last decade and it has been brought about by an attitude which the government has allowed." | "Binge drinking has become a way of life especially in the last decade and it has been brought about by an attitude which the government has allowed." |
| Binge drinking is not only damaging to health but it makes individuals vulnerable to harm Jacqui Smith | Binge drinking is not only damaging to health but it makes individuals vulnerable to harm Jacqui Smith |
| Mr Russell said the government's encouragement of 24-hour drinking was largely responsible but he also blamed supermarkets which sold cheap alcohol and pubs which encouraged excessive drinking. | Mr Russell said the government's encouragement of 24-hour drinking was largely responsible but he also blamed supermarkets which sold cheap alcohol and pubs which encouraged excessive drinking. |
| Earlier this week the government launched a £4m campaign of poster and TV advertising designed to discourage binge drinking, especially among young people. | Earlier this week the government launched a £4m campaign of poster and TV advertising designed to discourage binge drinking, especially among young people. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the campaign would "challenge people to think twice about the serious consequences of losing control". | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the campaign would "challenge people to think twice about the serious consequences of losing control". |
| She said: "Binge drinking is not only damaging to health but it makes individuals vulnerable to harm. People who are drunk are much more likely to be involved in an accident or assault, be charged with a criminal offence." | She said: "Binge drinking is not only damaging to health but it makes individuals vulnerable to harm. People who are drunk are much more likely to be involved in an accident or assault, be charged with a criminal offence." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| The new advert aimed at cutting binge drinking | The new advert aimed at cutting binge drinking |