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Man admits 1992 Nickell killing Man admits 1992 Nickell killing
(40 minutes later)
A man has pleaded guilty to killing Rachel Nickell, who was stabbed 49 times in front of her young son 16 years ago. A Broadmoor patient has pleaded guilty to killing former model Rachel Nickell, who was stabbed 49 times in front of her young son 16 years ago.
The 23-year-old former model was attacked as she walked with her two-year-old son on Wimbledon Common in south-west London on 15 July 1992. The 23-year-old was attacked as she walked with her two-year-old son on Wimbledon Common in south-west London on 15 July 1992.
Broadmoor patient Robert Napper, 42, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Robert Napper, 42, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
An Old Bailey judge said he would now be held in Broadmoor indefinitely. An Old Bailey judge said Napper would now be held in Broadmoor indefinitely.
Mr Justice Griffiths Williams said: "You are on any view a very dangerous man.Mr Justice Griffiths Williams said: "You are on any view a very dangerous man.
"You still present a very high risk of sexual homicide which can only be managed in a high security hospital.""You still present a very high risk of sexual homicide which can only be managed in a high security hospital."
Victor Temple QC, prosecuting, said two psychiatrists agreed that at the time of the killing Napper suffered from Asperger's syndrome and paranoid schizophrenia. Family consultation
Napper was charged after a review of unsolved cases Victor Temple QC, prosecuting, said two psychiatrists agreed that at the time of the killing Napper suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and Asperger's syndrome.
He said after consultation with police, lawyers and the victim's family it had been decided that it was "proper and appropriate" to accept the plea.He said after consultation with police, lawyers and the victim's family it had been decided that it was "proper and appropriate" to accept the plea.
The plea ends one of the most high-profile crimes ever dealt with by the Metropolitan Police. Napper was charged after a review of unsolved cases
But questions marks still hang over the original investigation and the missed opportunities to catch Napper, who went on to kill another young mother and her daughter. The plea ends one of the most high-profile crimes dealt with by the Metropolitan Police.
Napper was questioned about Ms Nickell's killing in December 1995 but denied involvement. In 1994, Colin Stagg from Roehampton, south-west London, went on trial for the murder, but the case was thrown out after evidence from an undercover policewoman was ruled inadmissible.
He had been sent to Broadmoor secure hospital two months earlier for killing Samantha Bissett, 27, and her four-year-old daughter Jazmine in an attack in south London in November 1993. Mr Stagg, 45, spent 13 months in custody. This year, he was awarded £706,000 compensation from the Home Office.
In 1994, Colin Stagg from Roehampton, south-west London, went on trial for the murder but the case was thrown out after evidence from an undercover policewoman was ruled inadmissible. After Thursday's trial Assistant Commissioner John Yates apologised to Mr Stagg for the "mistakes made".
Mr Stagg, 45, spent 13 months in custody. This year, he was awarded £706,000 compensation from the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police is expected to make a public apology to him later on Thursday. Questions marks still hang over the original investigation and the missed opportunities to catch Napper, who went on to kill another young mother and her daughter.
Napper was questioned in December 1995 about Ms Nickell's killing and denied involvement.
DNA analysis
He had been sent to Broadmoor secure hospital two months earlier for raping and killing Samantha Bissett, 27, and her four-year-old daughter Jazmine in an attack in Plumstead, south London in November 1993.
A tiny particle of Napper's DNA was picked up when Miss Nickell's body was swabbed soon after her death.
But it was too small to be analysed until recent advances made it possible. A match to Napper was confirmed in 2004.
Napper admitted the killing of Samantha and Jazmine Bissett
The former warehouseman, who lived near Miss Bissett was interviewed again in Broadmoor in 2006, but again he did not own up to the crime.
Police investigators admit that a series of failings meant Napper was not caught sooner.
Officers failed to question him after his mother rang a local police station in 1989 to say he had confessed to a rape.
The officer she spoke to could not match up details of the offence with any rape which had been reported.
Napper was also questioned about a series of sex attacks in 1992, but was wrongly eliminated.
"We have been absolutely honest about this to their family and we have told them that we deeply regret that this happened and have apologised to them," Commander Simon Foy said outside court.