06/05/2005

Life sentence for killer of pregnant teen

A man has been jailed for life for raping and killing pregnant teenager Amy Williams last year.

Phillip Powell, 43, from Telford, pleaded guilty to attacking and killing the 14-year-old on Boxing Day last year, at Stafford Crown Court today.

Amy, who was 24 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, disappeared after leaving a family party on Boxing Day last year. Her body was found on December 27 in the grounds of St Michael’s church.

Mr Powell told the court that he had met Amy while he was on his way to a fish and chip shop. He said that he had persuaded Amy to accompany him to the churchyard where he had sex with her, before killing her by strangling her with a shoelace from one of her own training shoes.

Mr Powell told the court that the attack was a “chance encounter” and said that he was motivated by “sexual desire”.

At the sentencing today, Mr Powell was told that he must serve a minimum term of 30 years for the murder.

(KMcA)


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