This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/claire-tiltman-murder-former-milkman-colin-ashsmith-found-guilty-of-killing-schoolgirl-more-than-20-years-ago-9918172.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Claire Tiltman murder: Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith found guilty of killing schoolgirl more than 20 years ago | Claire Tiltman murder: Former milkman Colin Ash-Smith found guilty of killing schoolgirl more than 20 years ago |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former milkman has been found guilty of the "frenzied and remorseless" murder of schoolgirl Claire Tiltman more than 20 years ago. | A former milkman has been found guilty of the "frenzied and remorseless" murder of schoolgirl Claire Tiltman more than 20 years ago. |
| Colin Ash-Smith, who has been branded "pure evil" by police, stabbed the teenager from behind in a dark alleyway in 1993, just four days before her 16th birthday. | Colin Ash-Smith, who has been branded "pure evil" by police, stabbed the teenager from behind in a dark alleyway in 1993, just four days before her 16th birthday. |
| Ash-Smith stared straight ahead as the jury of seven men and five women gave their verdict at the end of the five week trial. | Ash-Smith stared straight ahead as the jury of seven men and five women gave their verdict at the end of the five week trial. |
| Friends of Claire, who have attended every day of the hearing, broke down in tears as the verdict was read out at Inner London Crown Court. | Friends of Claire, who have attended every day of the hearing, broke down in tears as the verdict was read out at Inner London Crown Court. |
| Ash-Smith went on to launch a second attack on another young woman, Charlotte Barnard, in the same town, Greenhithe in Kent, in 1995. | Ash-Smith went on to launch a second attack on another young woman, Charlotte Barnard, in the same town, Greenhithe in Kent, in 1995. |
| She survived being stabbed 14 times and Ash-Smith was later jailed for that attack. | She survived being stabbed 14 times and Ash-Smith was later jailed for that attack. |
| Detectives have now said Ash-Smith should never be free to walk the streets again. | Detectives have now said Ash-Smith should never be free to walk the streets again. |
| Claire Tiltman was attacked in an alleyway in Greenhithe, Kent, in January 1993 (PA) | Claire Tiltman was attacked in an alleyway in Greenhithe, Kent, in January 1993 (PA) |
| Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cold Case Team, said the murder was one of the most "horrific" and "emotive" cases he had worked on. | Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cold Case Team, said the murder was one of the most "horrific" and "emotive" cases he had worked on. |
| He said: "Ash-Smith is a very dangerous individual. He is a predator. He would be stalking women with evil intent (to carry out attacks) - some of which he carried out and some of which he didn't. | He said: "Ash-Smith is a very dangerous individual. He is a predator. He would be stalking women with evil intent (to carry out attacks) - some of which he carried out and some of which he didn't. |
| "On the night in question Claire was in the wrong place at the wrong time. | |
| "When you look at the writings and some of the things he has done, this is a very, very dangerous individual, and justice has been served at last for the brutal murder of Claire." | "When you look at the writings and some of the things he has done, this is a very, very dangerous individual, and justice has been served at last for the brutal murder of Claire." |
| Det Supt Vinson revealed Ash-Smith had long been one of the prime suspects in the murder. | Det Supt Vinson revealed Ash-Smith had long been one of the prime suspects in the murder. |
| But it was not until changes in the law were made allowing a defendant's past convictions to be put before a jury that prosecutors had enough evidence to bring him to trial. | But it was not until changes in the law were made allowing a defendant's past convictions to be put before a jury that prosecutors had enough evidence to bring him to trial. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |