GUILTY UK - Nicola Fellows, 10, Karen Hadaway, 9, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, 9 Oct 1986

Nicky aged 9 and Karen aged 10 were best friends. One evening they disappeared togetherand their parents, after searching for them, called in police.

Their bodies were found soon. laying side by side in a place called wild park where Nicky had loved to climb trees. They had been sexually assaulted before and after death.

Russell Bishop, 23 was arrested and charged. He was a friend of Nickys Dad, Barrys and the family had even invited him into their home when he had had nowhere to stay.

The case became known as The babes in the wood murders.When the case came to court Bishop was described as a harmless fantasist but it was admited he had been seen in the park at the time the girls died. He was declared not guilty but police stated they were not looking for anyone else.

People being people the gossip then started and one day the family came home to find the word murderer daubed in paint on their door. People would stop talking if the family approached etc. the couple split up after 15 years together.

On Feb 4th the third anniversary of Nickys funeral, Bishop was arrested again. He was accused of sexually assaulting and strangling a 7 yaer old girl and leaving her for dead. Thankfully she survived. He was found guilty of kidnapping, indecent assault and attempted murder and sentenced to life.

Nickys uncles began a campaign to have th law changed so that criminals could be charged for the sane crime twice. The act was scrapped in 2003.

Nicky felt unable to stay friends with Karens mum as the pain was to much and happily Nickys mum has remarried. a new parole officer has been assigned to the case but Bishop now 39 has been granted a parole hearing. If sucessful he could be out by January after serving 16 years.

http://www.thebabesinthewoodmurders.co.uk/index.htm

missacorah said:

...Nickys uncles began a campaign to have th law changed so that criminals could be charged for the sane crime twice. The act was scrapped in 2003. ... a new parole officer has been assigned to the case but Bishop now 39 has been granted a parole hearing. If sucessful he could be out by January after serving 16 years....

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Even if a law had managed to pass which would allow a person to be tried again for a crime previously acquitted for, it would not have applied to this individual, as it would be an "Ex Post Facto Law". Some times, a prosecutor can dismiss or drop charges due to lack of evidence, but retain the right to prosecute later. This was obviously not the case here and the perpetrator seems to have "walked".

It could be argued that criminal activity AFTER a crime does not necessarily prove that the accused actually committed the first act. There are cases where a conviction has been overturned because a prosecutor introduced other convictions which took place subsequent to the most recent conviction, because it was ruled that mentioning SUBSEQUENT misconduct was prejudicial to the accused.

In spite of all that, however, Parole Hearings are a whole different matter, and they do not have the same convoluted legalistic requirements regarding what can be presented to the Parole Board. You - or anyone - has a right to contact the parole board and present information as to why or why not the convict should be parolled. You could present the previous case information and state your own beliefs regarding his connection with the murders.

One of the main questions that a Parole Board has to consider is: will he be a repeat offender? In this case presenting the information concerning the older case would tend to confirm, that YES indeed he would be a likely repeat offender.

I'm with Richard on this one, I would do everything possible to contact the parole board and provide them with court transcripts if possible-notarized, legal documents is possible and if anything a simple letter mentioning the previous crime and evidence that may tie him to the case.

I wonder if they had to retest the evidence if they could at least tie Bishop to the crime somehow-even if the guy walked and cannot be retried at least the evidence would be there to support it-be it DNA or other solid evidence. With any evidence and supporting statements from investigators, forensics etc. included with info sent to the parole board that would really help.

Agree whole heartedly - some good points raised!

You recently sent an email to the Babes in the wood web-site, can I bring your attention to the following march being held to challenge the awful decision made by Sussex Police not to take the case further.

Ian heffron
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Campaign for Justice for​

Nicola and Karen​

Babes in the Wood.​

​

PRESS RELEASE

The families of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway are to march from Brighton Police Station to Wild Park, on Tuesday 10th October 2006 starting at 2pm.
They are asking if anyone would like to walk with them, if so, could they either carry a photograph of the girls or a Teddy bear to show support.
They hope to arrive at Wild Park around the time that the girls were found 4.30pm.

A judicial review has been commenced and the police have been invited to initially respond.

The families are shocked that Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Yeo wrongly advised the media that his force had fully reviewed all evidence.
Neglecting to contact SEVEN Witnesses whose details had been provided to them at the outset of their new investigation.
This is unacceptable, he then compounds the error by saying, the case remains open and evidence coming forward would be investigated.
WHY WASN'T IT DONE BEFORE THIS?

It is now 20 years since these awful crimes were committed, the girls will never be forgotten.

For more information please contact either;
Ian Heffron, 01443 730000 or 0787 119 5762.
Nigel Heffron, 01273 277951.

From CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE FOR NICOLA AND KAREN.​

​

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX​

Always Remembered

Never Forgotten​

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx​

JUSTICE for ​

Nicola and Karen.​

Join us when we walk ​

from​

Brighton Police Station​

to​

Wild Park.​

Tuesday 10th October @ 2pm​

Please bring a Teddy or Photograph of the girls with you to show your support.​

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx​

Sussex Police have refused to Prosecute ​

Russell BISHOP.​

WE ARE ASKING WHY?​

​

​

​

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http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=spot_the_pedo

Prime suspect Russell Bishop in murder case could be free April15


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Justice-Secretary-approves-case-review.html

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1445...memorial_bench_destroyed_by_mindless_vandals/

A memorial bench for the child victims of one of Britain's most notorious unsolved murders has been smashed in half by mindless vandals.

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ARREST!

A man has been arrested over the murders of two girls aged 10 and nine nearly three decades after they were killed.


The suspect was arrested today by the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team over the deaths of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway.


The arrest of the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, comes after new evidence emerged which was not available at the time of the original crime.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rs-girls-aged-10-nine-nearly-30-years-on.html

This really is fantastic news. There's very little information about the arrest so far, except that the arrestee had been previously charged with the murders but was cleared at trial. No doubt more will emerge soon.

MelmothTheLost said:

There's very little information about the arrest so far, except that the arrestee had been previously charged with the murders but was cleared at trial.

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A correction:

The Mail report now says:

"A man was previously arrested and charged with murder, but was cleared at trial."

Earlier it suggested that the same man had been arrested as had been previously tried.

I wonder what the legal reasons are preventing publication in this case.

I hope it's not connected to this story: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/p...years-on-fathers-first-interview-1722940.html

I was looking at this twitter account for news on other cases and this popped up, thought I'd see if there's a thread:

CourtNewsUK‏
@CourtNewsUK
4m4 minutes ago
More
Russell Bishop, 51, appears at the Old Bailey to deny the murders of nine year-olds Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows in Brighton on 9 October 1986. Trial in October.

https://twitter.com/CourtNewsUK/status/959390345745387520

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ETA: So after reading up thread, this is the same person who was acquitted in 1987 and is probably still in prison on child molestation convictions.

Legally Bland said:

I was looking at this twitter account for news on other cases and this popped up, thought I'd see if there's a thread:



ETA: So after reading up thread, this is the same person who was acquitted in 1987 and is probably still in prison on child molestation convictions.

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Here's a short article from The Mirror

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/man-stand-trial-accused-babes-11957396

Some confusion over the date of the retrial - the BBC have it as 15 October and The Argus has it as 15 September.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/15916151.BREAKING__Russell_Bishop_appears_in_court_accused_of_Nicola_Fellows_and_Karen_Hadaway_murders/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-42919353

I normally don't link to the Daily Fail, but this has a few pictures and a bit more information that the other articles

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5344197/Roofer-stand-trial-1986-Babes-Wood-murders.html

The senior judge has set a trial at the Old Bailey for October 15. The case is expected to go on for six to eight weeks.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5344197/Roofer-stand-trial-1986-murders.html

More confirmation that the trial will still start on October 15th and last for 6 to 8 weeks. I come from this area and this has been one of the biggest unsolved crimes in my lifetime so will be interesting to watch.

Russell Bishop to stand trial accused of murdering schoolgirls Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows in 1986

Russell Bishop to stand trial for murder of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows over 30 years ago | Metro News

It sounds like justice may finally be done with this case...will watch for news on the trial with interest.

Man on trial again for murder of schoolgirls in 1986 | Daily Mail Online

A convicted sex predator has gone on trial for the second time for molesting and strangling two schoolgirls in woods 32 years ago.

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Full transcript of this morning's prosecution opening speech:

Russell Bishop murder trial: everything said by the prosecution on morning of day 1

Live reporting from this afternoon (still pros opening speech):

LIVE: Russell Bishop on trial for murder of 9-year-olds Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows | The Argus

Man 'murdered two schoolgirls in 1986'
"A man has gone on trial for the second time accused of murdering two nine-year-old girls 32 years ago.

Russell Bishop, 52, strangled Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway who were found dead in woods near Brighton in October 1986, the Old Bailey heard.

He was cleared of their murder after a trial in 1987, jurors were told.

The court heard three years later, in February 1990, he was convicted of kidnapping and trying to kill a seven-year-old girl, also in Brighton.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said the victim was able to identify Bishop and that, together with "scientific and other compelling evidence", led to his conviction at Lewes Crown Court in December 1990."

"The court heard Bishop's earlier acquittal for the murders of Nicola and Karen was quashed at the Court of Appeal in light of new evidence following advances in DNA testing.

Mr Altman said: "That means the defendant can be prosecuted again based on the evidence that existed then and the new evidence that is available now."

Mr Altman said similarities between the cases could lead to the "sure conclusion" Bishop was responsible for murdering Nicola and Karen.

"There is other compelling evidence that this man was the killer," he added.

Bishop denies the charges."

Day 2 live reporting (still pros opening speech):

LIVE: Russell Bishop murder trial day 2