Teenager convicted of jeweller's murder

A teenager has been found guilty of the murder of Nottingham jeweller Marion Bates.

Peter Williams, 19, was convicted of the murder of Mrs Bates, 64, who was shot dead as she tried to protect her daughter from a gang of armed robbers in their store, the Time Centre, in Nottingham on September 30, 2003.

Mrs Bates' husband Victor and daughter Xanthe were both injured in the attack. Mr Bates was badly beaten with a crowbar.

Williams, who is of no fixed address, was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, possessing a firearm with intent and conspiracy to rob the store. He had denied the murder charge, but the prosecution claimed that he had helped the gunman to escape. The gunman, who is believed to be called James Brodie, according to some reports, has never been caught. Police have been reported as saying that he may have been murdered.

Two other defendants, Dean Betton and Craig Moran, both aged 23, were also convicted of conspiring to rob the Bates's jewellery store.

Lisa Unwin, 23, was also found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice, along with Moran, because she had provided him with a false alibi.

(KmcA)