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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Life sentence for jogger's killer | Life sentence for jogger's killer |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A loner who murdered a Harrods shop worker before burying her body in a shallow grave has been jailed for life. | A loner who murdered a Harrods shop worker before burying her body in a shallow grave has been jailed for life. |
| The body of Egeli Rasta, 27, originally from Estonia, was found in Mitcham Common, south London, in July 2006. | The body of Egeli Rasta, 27, originally from Estonia, was found in Mitcham Common, south London, in July 2006. |
| Garath Davies, 23, was found guilty of her murder in November and will serve a minimum 23 years. The judge said there had been a sexual motive. | Garath Davies, 23, was found guilty of her murder in November and will serve a minimum 23 years. The judge said there had been a sexual motive. |
| He had claimed he could not remember the day she died because he had been chain smoking cannabis. | He had claimed he could not remember the day she died because he had been chain smoking cannabis. |
| Ms Rasta's body was found naked and Judge Richard Hawkins, sitting at the Old Bailey, said he believed the attack had "involved sexual conduct". | Ms Rasta's body was found naked and Judge Richard Hawkins, sitting at the Old Bailey, said he believed the attack had "involved sexual conduct". |
| 'Very stoned' | 'Very stoned' |
| As Davies was led from the court, Ms Rasta's boyfriend, who was in the public gallery, shouted: "Rot in hell." | As Davies was led from the court, Ms Rasta's boyfriend, who was in the public gallery, shouted: "Rot in hell." |
| Davies, 23, of Mitcham, south London, and originally from Llanelli, South Wales, told a trial he was "very stoned" on the day that Ms Rasta died. | Davies, 23, of Mitcham, south London, and originally from Llanelli, South Wales, told a trial he was "very stoned" on the day that Ms Rasta died. |
| He had had denied murder and perverting the course of justice. | He had had denied murder and perverting the course of justice. |
| The court heard that Ms Rasta, who was "fit, athletic, and quite strong", lived near Mitcham Common and would often jog and sunbathe there. | The court heard that Ms Rasta, who was "fit, athletic, and quite strong", lived near Mitcham Common and would often jog and sunbathe there. |
| I'm afraid I might have done it. I can't remember Garath Davies | I'm afraid I might have done it. I can't remember Garath Davies |
| She disappeared on 4 July, a day after working a shift at the LK Bennett concession at Harrods. Her body lay undiscovered for 12 days. | She disappeared on 4 July, a day after working a shift at the LK Bennett concession at Harrods. Her body lay undiscovered for 12 days. |
| Detectives found a kitchen knife covered in blood at the home Davies shared with his mother. | Detectives found a kitchen knife covered in blood at the home Davies shared with his mother. |
| The name "Gaz" was carved into the branch of a tree near where the naked body of Miss Rasta was found after police were alerted by a dog walker. | The name "Gaz" was carved into the branch of a tree near where the naked body of Miss Rasta was found after police were alerted by a dog walker. |
| Davies later told police: "I'm afraid I might have done it. I can't remember." | Davies later told police: "I'm afraid I might have done it. I can't remember." |
| Mark Ellison, prosecuting, said Davies was "something of a loner" who spent much of his time on the common alone or with his black Staffordshire bull terrier Tyson. | Mark Ellison, prosecuting, said Davies was "something of a loner" who spent much of his time on the common alone or with his black Staffordshire bull terrier Tyson. |
| Family suffering | |
| The judge told Davies: "Egeli Rasta was using a public park at Mitcham Common for its true purpose - namely exercise and recreation. She was a young woman full of hope for the future. | |
| "Her mother said she wanted to become a social worker. She wanted to do that work to help others, as her mission in life. | |
| "You suddenly ended her life by murdering her and burying her body at the scene. It is plainly the loss of a precious life. | |
| "Her family and friends have suffered greatly." | |
| A victim impact statement from Ms Rasta's mother read out in court said she has not yet told the victim's nine-year-old sister as she "can't bring herself to explain". | |
| Following the sentencing Dept Ch Insp Dave Garwood said the police were "very satisfied" with the decision. | |
| He added that police initially thought Ms Rasta was jogging in the common at the time of the attack but now believe she was sunbathing. |