logo
Lesley Howell's family say there's ‘no joy' after Hazel Stewart appeal bid fails

Lesley Howell's family say there's ‘no joy' after Hazel Stewart appeal bid fails

Yahoo25-06-2025
The family of murder victim Lesley Howell has said there is 'no joy' after double killer Hazel Stewart failed in a bid to have her prison sentence reduced.
In a statement, the family said they are continuing to live with a life sentence as they deal with Stewart's 'ongoing attempt to evade justice'.
Stewart, 62, was refused leave at the Court of Appeal on Wednesday to appeal against the length of her sentence for killing her policeman husband and the wife of her former lover.
She is serving a minimum 18 years behind bars for the murders of Constable Trevor Buchanan, 32, and 31-year-old Lesley Howell in 1991.
Ms Howell's daughter, Dr Lauren Bradford-Clarke, watched the court proceedings via videolink.
A statement from the family said: 'We're relieved that this stage of the legal process has concluded, but there is no joy. No celebration.
'The Court of Appeal's decision today, upholding all previous rulings, confirms what we've known all along.
'We've always maintained our confidence in the original judgment and the overwhelming weight of expert opinion supporting our case.
'As Lady Chief Justice Dame (Siobhan) Keegan pointed out, Hazel's repeated attempts to find a different expert opinion – what she called 'expert shopping' – ultimately proved fruitless.'
The statement added: 'While this decision offers some reassurance, we recognise that there's no true end or closure.
'This is a life sentence, and we must continue to live with the pain caused by Hazel's ongoing attempt to evade justice.
'Nothing will bring our mum back. We have no appeals. No paroles. No release date.
'The cycle of appeal after appeal shows Hazel's complete lack of remorse and her refusal to take responsibility for her actions.
'My beautiful mum's memory will not be shadowed by this, and we will continue to love and honour the person she was.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Laurence Fox ‘paedophile' posts would not have been taken seriously, appeal told
Laurence Fox ‘paedophile' posts would not have been taken seriously, appeal told

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Laurence Fox ‘paedophile' posts would not have been taken seriously, appeal told

Social media posts by Laurence Fox referring to two people as paedophiles likely would not have been taken 'seriously' by many people, the Court of Appeal has heard. The actor-turned-activist was successfully sued by now-Stonewall CEO Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal over a row on Twitter, now known as X. Mr Fox called Mr Blake and the former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant, whose real name is Colin Seymour, 'paedophiles' in an exchange about a decision by Sainsbury's to mark Black History Month in October 2020. Mr Fox called for a boycott of the supermarket and was called 'a racist' by the pair, as well as broadcaster Nicola Thorp, before he responded with the 'paedophile' tweets which led to the libel claims. In two judgments in 2024, Mrs Justice Collins Rice ruled in favour of Mr Blake and Mr Seymour and said Mr Fox should pay the pair £90,000 each in damages. The judge dismissed Mr Fox's counter claims against the pair and Ms Thorp over tweets accusing him of racism. The 47-year-old is now challenging the rulings at the Court of Appeal in London, attending the first day of the hearing on Monday. Patrick Green KC, for Mr Fox, said in written submissions that the judgment which found Mr Fox had libelled the pair should be quashed due to 'errors of approach' by the judge, including over whether Mr Blake and Mr Seymour were caused serious harm. Mr Green said: 'Her conclusions were in any event, plainly wrong, on any fair consideration of the evidence.' The barrister added that Mrs Justice Collins Rice had wrongly decided damages for the two men, who, along with Ms Thorp, are opposing the appeal. Mr Green said that the decision on damages did not consider the actual words Mr Fox used 'and the likelihood that many or the vast majority of readers would have not have taken them seriously, particularly in their context'. The barrister said that in one of her rulings, the judge 'ignores the actual words used, or their all important context'. He also said the judge 'failed to account adequately or at all' for an apology Mr Fox made, or alleged misconduct by Mr Blake and Mr Seymour in 'exaggerating' the harm and distress caused. Mr Fox told the original trial in November 2023 that his use of the term was 'rhetorical', and 'there was no inference at any point that I thought they were a paedophile'. 'I was diminishing the ridiculousness of calling me a racist,' he said. And on Monday, Mr Green said it was clear Mr Fox was being rhetorical. The barrister told appeal judges: 'He's not saying 'I am a racist and they are paedophiles' and everyone understood it in that way.' Adrienne Page KC, for Mr Blake, Mr Seymour and Ms Thorp, said in written submissions that Mr Fox's appeal was 'lacking in merit'. She continued: 'The 'paedophile' tweets did not embody the appellant's opinions about Mr Blake and Mr Seymour. 'They conveyed factual imputations of the most serious defamatory character.' The barrister added there was 'no meaningful retraction or apology' by Mr Fox. She later said: 'Whichever way one looks at it, the judge was fully entitled to reach the factual conclusions that she did on the serious, real-world, reputational impact of the appellant's tweets, for the reasons which she gave. 'There was nothing wrong with her analysis in fact or law.' Ms Page added that Mr Fox's case at trial had been 'largely devoted to hypothesising, as already noted, a series of different scenarios as to the various ways or settings in which his tweets may have appeared to different readers'. 'After very careful and conscientious evaluation, the judge was, unsurprisingly, not persuaded of this on the facts,' she continued. Ms Page continued that the sums of £90,000 in damages awarded to the pair were 'unexceptionable'. The hearing before Lord Justice Dingemans, Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing and Lord Justice Warby is expected to conclude on Tuesday.

Mother pleads guilty to manslaughter after toddler found in pond
Mother pleads guilty to manslaughter after toddler found in pond

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Mother pleads guilty to manslaughter after toddler found in pond

A 42-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her two-year-old daughter who died after being found in a pond. Alice Mackey, of Oakhanger, Hampshire, entered the plea at Winchester Crown Court in connection with the death of Annabel Mackey who went missing from her home in Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon, Hampshire, on September 10 2023. The youngster was found a short time later at Kingsley Pond and was taken to hospital in a serious condition, but died the following afternoon. The defendant entered a not guilty plea to a charge of murder which the court heard was acceptable to the prosecution as reports by two psychiatrists showed that she was in a state of 'diminished responsibility' at the time of the incident. Judge Christopher Parker KC adjourned the case for sentencing on October 6 and remanded Mackey in custody until then.

Liam and Noel Gallagher's brother charged with rape
Liam and Noel Gallagher's brother charged with rape

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Liam and Noel Gallagher's brother charged with rape

The older brother of Noel and Liam Gallagher has been charged with rape and a string of other sexual offences. Paul Gallagher who lives in East Finchley in north London, was charged by Scotland Yard following an investigation that began last year. The 59-year-old has been accused of rape, as well as sexual assault, coercive control, and making threats to kill. He is due to appear in court next month. The Metropolitan Police said the offences took place between 2022 and 2024 and relate to one woman. She is being supported by specialist officers, the force said. Paul, who is one year older than Noel and seven years older than Liam, grew up with the pair in Burnage in Manchester. But he has never been involved with Oasis which is currently mid-way through its 2025 world tour. The band are due to play their next gig at Wembley on Wednesday before moving on to Edinburgh next week. Paul lives in a flat that Noel bought in 2004 and has worked as a DJ and photographer. A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police said: 'Paul Gallagher, 59, of East Finchley, has been charged with rape, coercive and controlling behaviour, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of intentional strangulation, two counts of making a threat to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 'The offences are reported to have taken place between 2022 and 2024. 'The charges follow an investigation which commenced in 2024. 'A woman is being supported by specially trained officers.' Paul Gallagher will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, August 27.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store