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/west_yorkshire/7763260.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Mother guilty over Shannon kidnap | Mother guilty over Shannon kidnap |
(10 minutes later) | |
The mother of Shannon Matthews has been found guilty of charges relating to her daughter's disappearance. | The mother of Shannon Matthews has been found guilty of charges relating to her daughter's disappearance. |
Karen Matthews, 33, and her co-accused Michael Donovan, 40, were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. | Karen Matthews, 33, and her co-accused Michael Donovan, 40, were convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. |
The pair have been warned they face "substantial" jail terms when they are sentenced later. | The pair have been warned they face "substantial" jail terms when they are sentenced later. |
The nine-year-old was held at Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, for 24 days. | The nine-year-old was held at Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, for 24 days. |
The trial at Leeds Crown Court heard the pair kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" so they could claim £50,000 in reward money. | The trial at Leeds Crown Court heard the pair kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" so they could claim £50,000 in reward money. |
The judge Mr Justice McCombe said earlier that he would adjourn sentencing for reports to be prepared. No application was made for bail and the two defendants were led away. | |
Michael Donovan was "weak in body and mind", his barrister said. | Michael Donovan was "weak in body and mind", his barrister said. |
Detective Superintendant Andy Brennan, who led the investigation, described Matthews as "pure evil". | |
"It is difficult to understand what type of woman would subject her own daughter to such a wicked and evil crime," he said. | |
During the three-week trial, the court heard that Shannon, now 10, went missing on 19 February as she walked home from school. | During the three-week trial, the court heard that Shannon, now 10, went missing on 19 February as she walked home from school. |
After a huge search operation by West Yorkshire Police costing almost £3.2 million, she was found by police in Donovan's flat, less than a mile from her home, on 14 March. | After a huge search operation by West Yorkshire Police costing almost £3.2 million, she was found by police in Donovan's flat, less than a mile from her home, on 14 March. |
The search was one of the largest ever conducted by the West Yorkshire force. | The search was one of the largest ever conducted by the West Yorkshire force. |
The prosecution told the jury that Donovan kept Shannon drugged and imprisoned in his flat as part of a plan he and Matthews hatched to claim £50,000 in reward money. | The prosecution told the jury that Donovan kept Shannon drugged and imprisoned in his flat as part of a plan he and Matthews hatched to claim £50,000 in reward money. |
Matthews denied the abduction and blamed the crime on her former partner, Craig Meehan, and other members of his family. | Matthews denied the abduction and blamed the crime on her former partner, Craig Meehan, and other members of his family. |
She said she was "disgusted" by allegations that she was involved in her daughter's kidnap. | She said she was "disgusted" by allegations that she was involved in her daughter's kidnap. |
You have done it with great aplomb and behaved with great dignity Mr Justice McCombe to the jury | You have done it with great aplomb and behaved with great dignity Mr Justice McCombe to the jury |
Donovan, who is the uncle of Mr Meehan, claims he was scared of Matthews and agreed to take Shannon only because he feared for his life. | Donovan, who is the uncle of Mr Meehan, claims he was scared of Matthews and agreed to take Shannon only because he feared for his life. |
Neither of the defendants showed any emotion as the jury foreman returned the verdict. | Neither of the defendants showed any emotion as the jury foreman returned the verdict. |
Matthews stood staring straight forward in the stone-coloured jacket she has worn throughout the proceedings and with her red hair hanging untied over her shoulders. | Matthews stood staring straight forward in the stone-coloured jacket she has worn throughout the proceedings and with her red hair hanging untied over her shoulders. |
Donovan, who had been described in court as "a dimwit" stood a few feet away from her, separated by a court security officer. | Donovan, who had been described in court as "a dimwit" stood a few feet away from her, separated by a court security officer. |
The court remained silent following the verdict after the judge warned the public gallery against over-emotional responses. | The court remained silent following the verdict after the judge warned the public gallery against over-emotional responses. |
The seven men and five women on the jury took about six hours to find the pair unanimously guilty of all charges. | The seven men and five women on the jury took about six hours to find the pair unanimously guilty of all charges. |
After they returned their verdict, Mr Justice McCombe thanked the jury for their "careful consideration" throughout the trial. | After they returned their verdict, Mr Justice McCombe thanked the jury for their "careful consideration" throughout the trial. |
The judge said: "You have done it with great aplomb and behaved with great dignity." | The judge said: "You have done it with great aplomb and behaved with great dignity." |