KEVAN ROBERTS FROM ECCLES-ON-SEA AND HAPPISBURGH SENTENCED FOR MURDER OF 12-YEAR-OLD THOMAS MARSHALL IN NORFOLK

In December 1999, a tragic and disturbing case culminated in the conviction of a shopkeeper from Norfolk, Kevan Roberts, for the brutal murder of a young boy named Thomas Marshall. The court proceedings, held at Norwich Crown Court, revealed a chilling account of the events leading up to the boy's death and the subsequent investigation that uncovered the horrifying details.

Kevan Roberts, who operated a convenience store in the coastal village of Eccles-on-Sea, was found guilty by a jury of strangling 12-year-old Thomas Marshall. The verdict was delivered with a heavy sense of finality, and Judge Mr. Justice Smedley sentenced Roberts to life imprisonment. The judge emphasized that the minimum term Roberts would serve would be in the double digits, indicating a lengthy and possibly indefinite incarceration.

During the sentencing, Judge Smedley addressed Roberts directly, stating, "There is only one sentence I can pass. You have been found guilty by the jury of strangling to death a young boy of 12." He further remarked on Roberts' character, noting that Roberts had described Thomas to a witness as 'not an angel,' implying a perception of the boy that was dismissive and demeaning. The judge clarified that, although Thomas was not an angel—an acknowledgment that most 12-year-olds are still developing—he did not deserve to die in the horrific manner Roberts had inflicted upon him.

Roberts showed little emotion as he was led away from the courtroom, but the verdict elicited gasps from members of Thomas Marshall's family, who were not present in court at the time. Thomas's parents, John and Carol Marshall, expressed their feelings afterward, describing their initial reaction to Roberts' conviction as one of relief, a sense that justice had been served for their son.

Key evidence in the case was the discovery of a single bead in the sink-trap of Roberts' Norfolk home, found thirteen months after Thomas's death. This bead matched one missing from a shoelace-style choker necklace that Thomas was wearing on the night he disappeared. The young boy had vanished after cycling away from his home in Happisburgh at approximately 5:45 pm on August 21, 1997. Thomas had told his parents he was going to visit a friend, but when he failed to return home, his parents contacted the friend's family and learned that Thomas had never arrived. This prompted them to call emergency services immediately.

Norfolk police launched an extensive investigation, one of their largest at the time, involving numerous searches and interviews. The following day, a friend of Thomas's found his reddish-pink mountain bike, which had been disassembled, at Brunstead Common at around 3 pm. Just a few hours later, a passer-by discovered Thomas's body in a layby at Rowdham Heath, near Thetford, a location known for its popularity among homosexuals. The discovery of the body marked a tragic and disturbing chapter in the case.

Despite the massive effort, which included setting up roadblocks and interviewing thousands of individuals, the police initially struggled to find concrete evidence. The investigation, which cost approximately £1.6 million in its first year, finally reached a breakthrough with Roberts' arrest in September 1998. During a search of his flat above his shop, investigators found the bead in the sink-trap, linking him directly to the crime scene.

At the time of Thomas's death, Roberts was also involved in a homosexual relationship with his married cousin. Police uncovered evidence of Roberts's predilection for teenage boys, including twenty pornographic videos, some of which had been produced at his flat. Roberts denied having any relationship with Thomas, but the evidence and circumstances painted a different picture.

Prosecutor Charles Wide QC told the court that Thomas had known Roberts for a few months prior to his death. Roberts ran a convenience store in Eccles-on-Sea, and Thomas, along with a friend, had been stealing cigarettes and tobacco from the shop. During one encounter, Roberts reportedly admitted to Thomas that he was gay. Mr. Wide suggested that during the summer of 1997, Thomas visited Roberts' shop, and an incident of a sexual nature occurred between them. However, the exact details remained unknown, as only Roberts and Thomas were present at the time.

Mr. Wide also pointed out that Thomas was street-wise enough to attempt to exploit the situation but not mature enough to fully understand the consequences. The court heard that Roberts had tried to discourage the boys from visiting his shop but admitted to feeling increasingly out of control at times. Police believed that Thomas may have threatened to expose Roberts's relationship with him, which could have led Roberts to commit the murder, strangling Thomas and subsequently dumping his body in the layby at Rowdham Heath.

This case remains a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of exploitation and abuse, and the justice served in the conviction of Kevan Roberts for the murder of Thomas Marshall in Norfolk.