2011: GEMMA HAYTER MURDER: THREE JAILED FOR LIFE
Daniel Newstead, Chantelle Franklyn Booth, and Joe Boyer, all residents of Little Pennington Street, were sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murder.Lady Justice Rafferty, presiding at the Old Bailey, described the killing as a 'vile' act.
She mandated that Booth serve at least 21 years before being eligible for parole, while Newstead, aged 20, was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years.
Eighteen-year-old Boyer received a minimum term of 16 years.
Two others, Jessica Lynas from Little Pennington Street and Duncan Edwards from Ashwood Court, received sentences of 13 and 15 years respectively, after their prior manslaughter convictions.
During the court proceedings, Miss Hayter's mother, Sue Prince, expressed pity for her daughter's killers, stating, 'To have your child murdered by one person is horrific, but five people?' She also shared her ongoing grief, noting her efforts over her daughter’s life to obtain diagnosis and proper care when Gemma reached adulthood.
Lady Justice Rafferty described the murder as a 'chronicle of heartlessness' and emphasized the brutality involved.
She recounted how Edwards and Boyer urinated into a can of lager which they then forced Miss Hayter to drink, and how she was confined in a bathroom.
Despite calling out repeatedly for her mobile phone—placed in another toilet to prevent her from getting help—the defendants left her body at the scene, having stripped her naked.
Rafferty expressed her disbelief at the depth of their cruelty.
Booth was specifically called out as manipulative; the judge noted that Miss Hayter, who considered Booth her best friend, was repeatedly treated like a toy, her dependency exploited.
The severity of the physical abuse was highlighted by the fact that her nose was broken during beatings, ultimately leading to her choking on her own blood as a result of their actions.
Lady Justice Rafferty finished by condemning the defendants’ conduct, illustrating the depth of their depravity.
