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Man jailed for bus station murder Man jailed for bus station murder
(about 1 hour later)
A man has been jailed for life for the murder of a grandmother he sexually assaulted and mutilated in a bus station toilet 12 years ago.A man has been jailed for life for the murder of a grandmother he sexually assaulted and mutilated in a bus station toilet 12 years ago.
Ian O'Callaghan, 38, had denied attacking 66-year-old Shirley Leach at Bury Interchange in January 1994.Ian O'Callaghan, 38, had denied attacking 66-year-old Shirley Leach at Bury Interchange in January 1994.
But a jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty after hearing that traces of his blood were found on a door handle at the scene.But a jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty after hearing that traces of his blood were found on a door handle at the scene.
O'Callaghan, of Wragby Road, Bury, will serve a minimum of 28 years in jail.O'Callaghan, of Wragby Road, Bury, will serve a minimum of 28 years in jail.
Mrs Leach, a widow from Brandlesholme, Bury, had been to visit her daughter in hospital on 5 January 1994.Mrs Leach, a widow from Brandlesholme, Bury, had been to visit her daughter in hospital on 5 January 1994.
Being attacked in those circumstances must have been quite horrific Mr Justice Henriques She was waiting for a bus home when she went into a toilet cubicle and was attacked.Being attacked in those circumstances must have been quite horrific Mr Justice Henriques She was waiting for a bus home when she went into a toilet cubicle and was attacked.
O'Callaghan, who was 25 at the time, sexually assaulted her with a bottle, strangled her and then mutilated her body by cutting off her right breast.O'Callaghan, who was 25 at the time, sexually assaulted her with a bottle, strangled her and then mutilated her body by cutting off her right breast.
But during the killing he cut himself, leaving vital DNA clues which led to his arrest 12 years later through a combination of luck and science, the court heard.But during the killing he cut himself, leaving vital DNA clues which led to his arrest 12 years later through a combination of luck and science, the court heard.
After a road accident earlier in 2006, O'Callaghan was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and police took a DNA swab, which matched the killer of Mrs Leach.After a road accident earlier in 2006, O'Callaghan was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and police took a DNA swab, which matched the killer of Mrs Leach.
'Taking a trophy''Taking a trophy'
The court heard that O'Callaghan has a string of convictions for sex offences.The court heard that O'Callaghan has a string of convictions for sex offences.
He collapsed in the dock and began weeping as Mr Justice Henriques told him his minimum tariff before parole is considered.He collapsed in the dock and began weeping as Mr Justice Henriques told him his minimum tariff before parole is considered.
Describing the 38-year-old as a "sexual deviant", the judge told him: "You attacked her in a most vicious and violent way."Describing the 38-year-old as a "sexual deviant", the judge told him: "You attacked her in a most vicious and violent way."
Mrs Leach was murdered in Bury Interchange in 1994He said O'Callaghan may have decided to amputate her breast to destroy evidence, but added there was a possibility he had been "taking a trophy". href="/1/hi/england/manchester/6159959.stm" class="">Relief at killer's conviction
He said O'Callaghan may have decided to amputate her breast to destroy evidence, but added there was a possibility he had been "taking a trophy".
"You had a propensity for violence and sexual misconduct towards women who were strangers to you, as your three previous convictions demonstrate," the judge said."You had a propensity for violence and sexual misconduct towards women who were strangers to you, as your three previous convictions demonstrate," the judge said.
"The victim was vulnerable, she had mental and physical suffering inflicted upon her before death. Being attacked in those circumstances must have been quite horrific.""The victim was vulnerable, she had mental and physical suffering inflicted upon her before death. Being attacked in those circumstances must have been quite horrific."
Speaking after the hearing, Det Insp Jeff Arnold, of Greater Manchester Police's Cold Case Review Unit, said the case was an example of how much DNA technology had improved.Speaking after the hearing, Det Insp Jeff Arnold, of Greater Manchester Police's Cold Case Review Unit, said the case was an example of how much DNA technology had improved.
He said O'Callaghan was caught, in part, because of the fact DNA samples were now routinely taken for minor offences and run through a national database.He said O'Callaghan was caught, in part, because of the fact DNA samples were now routinely taken for minor offences and run through a national database.
"It is shocking to think that someone can commit such a brutal murder and then get on with his life, as normal, for the next 12 years without his conscience ever kicking in," he added."It is shocking to think that someone can commit such a brutal murder and then get on with his life, as normal, for the next 12 years without his conscience ever kicking in," he added.