JAMES WARNOCK FROM CAMDEN FOUND GUILTY OF RAPE AND MURDER OF TEENAGE GIRL IN NORTH LONDON

In a case that has spanned over three decades, James Warnock, a 56-year-old man from Camden, has been convicted of the heinous crimes of raping and murdering a teenage girl named Yiannoulla Yianni in August 1982. The tragic incident took place at the victim’s family home in Belsize Park, located in the northern part of London, where Yiannoulla was at her residence preparing dinner alone.

Warnock’s initial attack was brutal and terrifying. He approached the home by knocking on the door and then forcing his way inside. Once inside, he pursued the frightened teenager through her house, ultimately assaulting her on her parents’ bed. The assault culminated in her being strangled to death, leaving her family devastated. Her lifeless body was discovered later that afternoon by her distraught parents, Elli and George, who found her in a tragic state that would haunt them forever.

The murder remained unsolved for an astonishing 34 years, casting a long shadow over the community and the family. It was only in January of this year that a breakthrough occurred when forensic DNA analysis linked semen found at the crime scene to Warnock. This crucial evidence finally identified him as the perpetrator, bringing long-awaited justice.

Further investigations revealed that Warnock had been involved in other criminal activities. In December of the previous year, he was arrested for distributing indecent images of children. During this process, police collected a DNA sample from him, which later proved instrumental in connecting him to the 1982 murder.

Following the DNA match, authorities located Warnock in a hotel room, where he was found sitting in his underpants and drinking beer. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Yiannoulla. During police interviews, Warnock claimed to have had a secret affair with the victim during the summer of 1982, while working as a tiler in the area. He alleged that they met near her father’s shoe shop in Hampstead and that they engaged in brief sexual encounters during lunchtime at her home, describing these moments as “nice” and “gentle.”

However, these claims were heavily disputed in court. The prosecution pointed out that Yiannoulla was a virgin, raised with strict Greek traditions that forbade her from leaving the house unaccompanied or having a boyfriend. The inconsistencies in Warnock’s story, along with evidence of blood and semen at the scene, cast serious doubt on his account. Witnesses and family members testified that Yiannoulla’s behavior was consistent with her conservative upbringing and that she would never have taken a boyfriend home without her family’s knowledge.

On the day of her murder, Yiannoulla had been visiting her father’s shoe shop with her mother while waiting for her O-level results. After some time, her mother asked her to return home and prepare dinner for the family. Witnesses later reported seeing a man at the door of the family home and observed Yiannoulla speaking with a man who appeared to be in his twenties. Neighbors also heard arguing and a scream emanating from the house. When her parents returned, they found her jewelry scattered on the stairs and landing. The tragic scene inside the bedroom was beyond their worst nightmares: Yiannoulla was found lying on her bed, naked from the waist down, with her breasts exposed, and clearly deceased.

Warnock, who was known to frequent Camden, was brought to court to face justice. The jury, composed of six men and six women, deliberated for just over two hours before returning guilty verdicts on charges of rape and murder on a Thursday. The following day, at the Old Bailey, Warnock pleaded guilty to six counts of distributing indecent photographs of children, with three counts relating to incidents in January 2013 and three from December of the previous year. The emotional impact of the verdicts was profound; Yiannoulla’s family, including her brothers Peter and Ricky, and her sister Maria, broke down in court, sobbing loudly as the verdicts were announced. Members of the public gallery also expressed their grief through loud sobs.

Throughout the proceedings, Warnock maintained a stoic demeanor, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, showing no visible emotion as the verdicts were read. As he left the dock, Yiannoulla’s sister Maria stood to watch him, a poignant moment in the courtroom. Outside, the family embraced each other, expressing relief and gratitude to the police officers who had worked tirelessly to bring the case to a close.

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the Recorder of London, addressed the court, acknowledging the long wait endured by Yiannoulla’s family. He expressed appreciation for their patience and resilience, stating, “I recognize the enormous burden they have carried for so many years.” Due to legal restrictions, reporting on the guilty verdicts for the indecent images charges was initially limited, but these restrictions were lifted following Warnock’s guilty pleas.

In a dramatic turn, police located Warnock in a hotel room shortly after the DNA evidence was confirmed. He was found sitting in his underpants, drinking beer. He was formally charged with her murder, although he claimed to police that he had been involved in a secret affair with Yiannoulla during the summer of 1982 while working as a tiler. Warnock alleged that they met near her father’s shoe shop in Hampstead and that they engaged in brief sexual encounters during lunchtime at her home, describing these moments as “nice” and “gentle.”

Despite his claims, the evidence against him was overwhelming. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC pointed out that Warnock’s story did not hold up under scrutiny. The evidence included not only semen but also blood found at the scene. The prosecution argued that Warnock’s fabricated story was an attempt to cover his tracks, especially given the evidence of blood and semen, which indicated a violent assault. Witnesses and family members testified that Yiannoulla’s strict upbringing made it impossible for her to have engaged in a clandestine relationship without her family’s knowledge. Her older sister emphasized that Yiannoulla’s family would never have allowed her to take a boyfriend home unnoticed.

On the day of her tragic death, Yiannoulla had been visiting her father’s shoe shop with her mother while awaiting her exam results. After a while, her mother asked her to go home and prepare the evening meal. Witnesses later saw a man at the door of the family home and observed Yiannoulla speaking with a man who appeared to be in his twenties. Neighbors reported hearing arguing and a scream from the house. When her parents returned, they found her jewelry scattered on the stairs and landing. Inside the bedroom, they discovered her lifeless body, a scene described as beyond their worst nightmares, with her lying on the bed, naked from the waist down, and her body showing signs of violence. George, her father, was so overwhelmed that he threw flower pots out of the window, shouting, “they killed my daughter.”

Warnock, a resident of Camden, is scheduled to be sentenced later, bringing closure to a case that shocked the community and the nation alike.