05/03/2008

Man Found Guilty Of Son's Murder

A man has been found guilty of the murder of his young son and the attempted murder of his teenage daughter.

Christopher Hawkins, 47, from Slaithwaite in Huddersfield was found guilty of murdering his son Ryan, four, and attempting to kill his 14-year-old daughter Donna, who was stabbed more than 13 times, but survived.

He has been jailed for life and told that he will have to serve at least 21 years in prison.

During the trial at Leeds Crown Court, the court heard how Hawkins' wife, Valerie Gee, had left him for a taxi driver after 17 years of marriage.

Hawkins had denied the charges against him on the grounds of diminished responsbility, claiming that he was suffering from an "abnormality of mind".

However, Mr Justice Wilkie said: "A more horrific crime it is hard to imagine than savagely and repeatedly to stab your young son who, in his agony, had to try to fend off blows from one of the people he was most entitled to expect love and affection.

"Although to this court, and after the event, you profess great love for Ryan and mourned his passing, in my judgement, having seen you give evidence and had the opportunity to assess your genuineness, these were crocodile tears."

(KMcA/JM)


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