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Family jailed over bully deaths | Family jailed over bully deaths |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A teenage bully and her parents have been jailed for killing the mother and father of a girl she was tormenting. | A teenage bully and her parents have been jailed for killing the mother and father of a girl she was tormenting. |
Natalie Connor, 18, plotted with parents Michael and Jane Connor, to pour petrol through the letterbox of Lucy Cochrane's house in Manchester. | Natalie Connor, 18, plotted with parents Michael and Jane Connor, to pour petrol through the letterbox of Lucy Cochrane's house in Manchester. |
Michael Connor set the home alight, killing Maureen and Alex Cochrane. | Michael Connor set the home alight, killing Maureen and Alex Cochrane. |
Connor and his wife, both 40, were jailed for a minimum of 32 years each for the murders. Natalie was jailed for 11 years. | Connor and his wife, both 40, were jailed for a minimum of 32 years each for the murders. Natalie was jailed for 11 years. |
She was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and arson. | She was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and arson. |
Mrs Cochrane died in the fire and her husband, Alex, died in hospital | Mrs Cochrane died in the fire and her husband, Alex, died in hospital |
Michael and Jane Connor were both cleared of the attempted murder of Lucy Cochrane - a special needs pupil at Newall Green High School, Wythenshawe, who was 16 at the time of the attack. She was severely injured in the fire. | Michael and Jane Connor were both cleared of the attempted murder of Lucy Cochrane - a special needs pupil at Newall Green High School, Wythenshawe, who was 16 at the time of the attack. She was severely injured in the fire. |
Margaret Robinson, 66, the mother of Jane Connor, who admitted perverting the course of justice by lying to police after the arson attack, was jailed for 18 months. | |
The deaths of Maureen Cochrane, 45, and her 54-year-old husband, Alex, were described in an earlier court hearing as a "tragedy of epic proportions" motivated by "such a trivial and nonsensical cause". | The deaths of Maureen Cochrane, 45, and her 54-year-old husband, Alex, were described in an earlier court hearing as a "tragedy of epic proportions" motivated by "such a trivial and nonsensical cause". |
The jury was told the Connors had carried out an 18-month "campaign of harassment" on the Cochranes. | The jury was told the Connors had carried out an 18-month "campaign of harassment" on the Cochranes. |
The animosity stemmed from Natalie and Lucy, who had met at school and had fallen out with each other. | The animosity stemmed from Natalie and Lucy, who had met at school and had fallen out with each other. |
'No justification' | 'No justification' |
The court heard Natalie made up "entirely false" claims that Lucy was bullying her. | The court heard Natalie made up "entirely false" claims that Lucy was bullying her. |
Passing sentence Judge Maddison, at Manchester Crown Court, said: "During the closing speech of this trial, leading counsel for the prosecution described this case as being 'as bad as it gets'. | Passing sentence Judge Maddison, at Manchester Crown Court, said: "During the closing speech of this trial, leading counsel for the prosecution described this case as being 'as bad as it gets'. |
"This is in my view not difficult to understand why he chose those words. | "This is in my view not difficult to understand why he chose those words. |
"These dreadful offences had their origin in no more than hostility that had developed at school between you Natalie Connor and Lucy Cochrane." | "These dreadful offences had their origin in no more than hostility that had developed at school between you Natalie Connor and Lucy Cochrane." |
Speaking of the arson attack he added: "Nothing can begin to justify or explain the extreme lengths to which you, Michael, Jane and Natalie Connor went on those days." | Speaking of the arson attack he added: "Nothing can begin to justify or explain the extreme lengths to which you, Michael, Jane and Natalie Connor went on those days." |
Steve Williams, Lucy's uncle, is now looking after her at his home in London, where she attends college. |