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Wright guilty of Suffolk murders | Wright guilty of Suffolk murders |
(31 minutes later) | |
Steve Wright has been found guilty of murdering five women in Suffolk. | Steve Wright has been found guilty of murdering five women in Suffolk. |
The bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were found in Ipswich over a 10-day period in December 2006. | The bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were found in Ipswich over a 10-day period in December 2006. |
Wright, 49, of Ipswich, said during his trial that he had sex with four of the five women, who were working as prostitutes, but denied killing them. | Wright, 49, of Ipswich, said during his trial that he had sex with four of the five women, who were working as prostitutes, but denied killing them. |
The jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him guilty of all five murders and he will be sentenced on Friday. | The jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him guilty of all five murders and he will be sentenced on Friday. |
'Crucifix pose' | 'Crucifix pose' |
The trial heard the bodies of Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls were found arranged with their arms outstretched in a crucifix pose. | The trial heard the bodies of Miss Alderton and Miss Nicholls were found arranged with their arms outstretched in a crucifix pose. |
The prosecution said Wright "systematically selected and murdered" all five women over a six-and-a-half-week period. | The prosecution said Wright "systematically selected and murdered" all five women over a six-and-a-half-week period. |
Killer steeped in viceLucky girl who survived | |
Suffolk police began an inquiry after Miss Nicol, 19, vanished in late October 2006. | Suffolk police began an inquiry after Miss Nicol, 19, vanished in late October 2006. |
Two weeks later, Miss Adams, 25, vanished and detectives began a "major inquiry", saying there were "obvious similarities". | Two weeks later, Miss Adams, 25, vanished and detectives began a "major inquiry", saying there were "obvious similarities". |
This was followed by the disappearance of Miss Alderton, 24, Miss Clennell, 24, and 29-year-old Miss Nicholls. | This was followed by the disappearance of Miss Alderton, 24, Miss Clennell, 24, and 29-year-old Miss Nicholls. |
Their bodies were eventually found in isolated locations around Ipswich. | Their bodies were eventually found in isolated locations around Ipswich. |
In 2001, Wright worked as a barman at the Brook Hotel in Felixstowe before being sacked for stealing hundreds of pounds from the till, for which he was ordered to carry out 100 hours community service. | In 2001, Wright worked as a barman at the Brook Hotel in Felixstowe before being sacked for stealing hundreds of pounds from the till, for which he was ordered to carry out 100 hours community service. |
It was a DNA sample taken at the time of that conviction which led to police matching samples taken from the dead women. | It was a DNA sample taken at the time of that conviction which led to police matching samples taken from the dead women. |
He was put under surveillance by police before being arrested on 19 December and charged two days later. | He was put under surveillance by police before being arrested on 19 December and charged two days later. |
I am very relieved and pleased for all of the families that this is now over and we can now start to get on with our lives Brian Adams, Gemma's father | |
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the decision by the women to turn to prostitution "was ultimately to prove fatal". | Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the decision by the women to turn to prostitution "was ultimately to prove fatal". |
He called on the judge to impose a "whole life term". | He called on the judge to impose a "whole life term". |
Gemma Adams' father Brian said: "I am very relieved and pleased for all of the families that this is now over and we can now start to get on with our lives. | |
"I can't speak highly enough about the police in this case. | |
"I don't have any feelings about Wright." | |
Wright's brother Keith said after the verdict: "I'm surprised the verdict has been so quick. | Wright's brother Keith said after the verdict: "I'm surprised the verdict has been so quick. |
"I would have thought there is enough things for them to have some doubt. | "I would have thought there is enough things for them to have some doubt. |
"Whatever the sentence, it's all over now." | "Whatever the sentence, it's all over now." |
These appalling crimes left a community, a county and a nation in a state of profound shock Det Ch Supt Stewart Gull | |
Michael Crimp, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said from outside the court: "Steve Wright is the factor that links all five women. | |
"He was last person to see them alive and the scientific evidence proved that he was responsible for their deaths. | |
"One telling piece of evidence was a carpet fibre from the footwell of Steve Wright's car found in Tania Nicol's hair. | |
"This was despite her body being found in water. | |
"Her killer failed to destroy this significant piece of evidence." | |
He added that the victims' families had sat through harrowing evidence and he hoped they could take some comfort from the verdicts. | |
Det Ch Supt Stewart Gull, who led the investigation, said: "These appalling crimes left a community, a county and a nation in a state of profound shock. | |
"They left Suffolk constabulary facing its most daunting challenge in history." | |
He thanked local people for their support during the investigation. |