Stuart Hazell

Parties and identities

• Stuart Hazell was the partner of Christine Sharp.
• Stuart Hazell was the former boyfriend of Tia Sharp’s mother.
• Tia Sharp was a 12-year-old girl named in the case summary as “Tia Sharp (30 June 2000 - 2 August 2012)”.
• David Sharp was Tia Sharp’s uncle.
• Christine Sharp was Tia Sharp’s grandmother.
• Paul Meehan was Christine Sharp’s neighbour.
• Natalie Sharp was Tia Sharp’s mother.
• Steven Carter was Tia Sharp’s biological father.
• Alison Saunders was of the Crown Prosecution Service.
• Lord Carlile was a mitigating counsel for Stuart Hazell.
• Mr Justice Nicol was the judge at trial and sentencing.
• Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola led the investigation.
• Commander Neil Basu was the officer in charge of the investigation.
• Andrew Edis QC was prosecution counsel.
• Bernard Hogan-Howe was the police commissioner.
• Steven Carter and Natalie Sharp made statements referenced during proceedings.

Timeline

• August 3, 2012 — Hazell told police that Tia Sharp left the house to travel to Croydon, five miles away, to buy shoes in the Whitgift Centre.
• August 4, 2012 — A police constable first searched the loft, climbing onto a stool balanced on a chair and thinking: "She is not hiding in here."
• August 10, 2012 — A body was discovered in the loft of Christine Sharp’s home after police searched it for the fourth time.
• August 10, 2012 — Stuart Hazell was arrested in Merton, south London, at 20:25 BST on suspicion of murdering Tia Sharp.
• August 10, 2012 — A post-mortem on the body began and was paused later that day.
• August 11, 2012 (late evening) — Hazell was charged with the murder of Tia Sharp.
• August 13, 2012 — Hazell appeared before Camberwell Green magistrates’ court via video-link.
• August 14, 2012 — Tia Sharp was cremated after a private family funeral.
• August 16, 2012 — An inquest into the death opened and confirmed the body was that of Tia Sharp.
• November 26, 2012 — It was announced that Stuart Hazell would face trial in May 2013.
• December 7, 2012 — The Metropolitan Police announced that Tia Sharp’s grandmother would not face charges.
• February 5, 2013 — Paul Meehan was charged with wasting police time.
• February 28, 2013 — Paul Meehan appeared at Croydon magistrates’ court.
• May 7, 2013 — The trial of Stuart Hazell began on 7 May 2013 before Mr Justice Nicol.
• May 13, 2013 — Hazell changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced on May 14, 2013.
• May 14, 2013 — Hazell was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 38 years.
• May 29, 2013 — Paul Meehan was released on bail for a one-day trial on 29 July.
• August 5, 2013 — Paul Meehan was found guilty of wasting police time and sentenced to five months in prison.
• September 14, 2013 — Tia Sharp was cremated on 14 September, after a private family funeral.
• June 2013 — Steven Carter announced that he was going to be a father again as his girlfriend was pregnant.
• July 2013 — Tia’s biological father Steven Carter said he backed a plan for websites to be told to block certain search terms and warn people when they try to view illegal content.

Background

In August 2012 she was reported missing from the home of her grandmother, Christine Sharp, in New Addington, London.

Stuart Hazell was the partner of Tia’s grandmother and was identified as a former boyfriend of Tia’s mother. Hazell had been in a short relationship with Tia’s mother Natalie Sharp, described as probably lasting only a week or two, and later with Natalie Sharp’s mother, Christine Bicknell, for five and a half years. Hazell moved in a week after he and Christine Bicknell got together. Hazell was described as the partner of Tia’s grandmother at the time of her death.

The offence

Stuart Hazell was charged with Tia Sharp’s murder.

During the trial, the court heard Hazell sexually assaulted and murdered Tia Sharp at her grandmother’s house in south London. The judge said he could not impose a whole life tariff because he was not sure Hazell’s motivation was sexual or that it was premeditated.

At trial, jurors were shown an explicit image of a child alleged to be Tia. Prosecutors said the image was taken in the early hours of 3 August 2012 and that Tia died around that time. The court also heard evidence that included photographs and video clips of Tia sleeping and evidence from internet history and memory cards.

The prosecution said Hazell had a sexual attraction to the schoolgirl and committed a significant sexual offence against her before killing her. The prosecution submitted that Hazell killed her, took her photograph as some form of keepsake, wrapped the body, and put it in the loft.

Hazell initially claimed in police interviews and later in court that Tia died after falling down the stairs and breaking her neck, and that he hid her body because he panicked. The prosecution position included that Hazell sexually assaulted Tia before her death.

Investigation

Police launched a large search after Tia Sharp was reported missing. The case involved a high-profile search.

• Fifty-five sightings were reported by members of the public, but none were substantiated.
• Eighty police officers were assigned to the search.
• 800 hours of CCTV footage were collected, including trams and buses.
• An area of woodland known as Birchwood not far from the house was searched with about 200 people helping police.

On 10 August 2012, police discovered a body in a black bed sheet in a black bag in the loft of Christine Sharp’s home after police searched it for the fourth time.

Commander Neil Basu apologised to Tia’s mother for the delay in finding her daughter's body and blamed human error, stating: "to ensure such a failing is not repeated". Later, on 23 August, police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe addressed the force's failure to find Tia’s body and said: "He wanted "to understand what processes and management decisions we've made that led to that failure." He hoped to have answers within a few weeks and again apologised to Tia’s family.

Commander Neil Basu said police priority was to support the family and identify the body as quickly as possible, and he said: "When Tia was first reported missing, officers searched her bedroom, as is normal practice in a missing persons inquiry." He also said the case was subject to ongoing investigation and he said it would be wrong to jump to conclusions until facts were established.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola stated outside court after Hazell pleaded guilty that early searches were "really just a look round" and said they were "not deep searches". He added: "they were not deep searches" and said that finding the body earlier "would not have made any difference" to what happened afterwards.

Arrest and custody

Police launched a search for Stuart Hazell after discovering the body. Hazell was arrested at Cannon Hill Common, Morden, on suspicion of murder after a tip-off from a member of the public. Another report indicated Hazell was arrested in Merton, south London at 20:25 BST after being identified by a member of the public.

It was later announced that Christine Sharp and Paul Meehan were also arrested: Christine Sharp was arrested on suspicion of murder, and Paul Meehan was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Meehan and Sharp were subsequently bailed.

Hazell appeared before Camberwell Green magistrates’ court on 13 August via video-link. No plea was entered at that hearing. The case was committed to the Old Bailey for trial and Hazell was remanded in custody to Belmarsh prison, where he was kept in isolation for his own safety.

Post-mortem and inquest

A post-mortem began on 10 August 2012 and was paused later that day. By 16 August, the post-mortem had still not been completed, but an inquest opened and it was confirmed that the body was that of Tia Sharp. The post-mortem later concluded without establishing the cause of death.

The court heard and it was widely reported that detectives suspected that Tia Sharp was smothered, although it was not officially proven to be the cause of death.

Court proceedings

On 26 November it was announced Stuart Hazell would face trial in May 2013.

On 7 December, the Metropolitan Police announced that Tia Sharp’s grandmother would not face charges.

Hazell’s first appearance at the Old Bailey was on 15 August via video-link and a preliminary hearing was set for 19 November.

Hazell pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court on 8 March 2013.

The trial began on 7 May 2013 before Mr Justice Nicol. On 13 May, Hazell changed his plea to guilty. Jurors had heard evidence including an image of a child alleged to be Tia dead on a bed at her grandmother's house in New Addington, with blood visible on the bed linen.

Sentencing

Stuart Hazell was sentenced to life imprisonment on 14 May with a minimum term of 38 years.

The judge, Mr Justice Nicol, said he could not impose a whole life tariff because he was not sure Hazell’s motivation was sexual or that it was premeditated. Mr Justice Nicol stated:

"I come back to the question of whether I can be sure that sexual motivation was involved in Tia's murder. I have decided that I cannot. " "Sexual activity and conduct took place not long before her death, but in order for sexual motivation to be involved in her murder there would need to be a closer connection than that. " "Shame and fear of what might happen if Tia talked are just two of the alternative possible motives behind her killing. " "Because of the way you concealed her in the loft the family were subjected to agony. Time after time you spun a wholly false story that Tia had disappeared. " "I accept that none of your previous convictions were for serious violence. You have a psychiatric history of suicide attempts and self harm. Your coping strategies were drugs and alcohol." "None of these matters is an excuse for what you did to Tia, but they are matters which I can, and do, take into account in fixing the minimum term."

The judge also stated to Hazell:

"Tia's mother trusted you to look after Tia. You have breached that trust in the most grievous way possible. " "Your guilty plea came on day five. You said you wished to avoid causing further stress to Tia's family. That is commendable, but they have had to endure four days of a very public trial."

During sentencing, the court heard that Hazell developed a sexual interest in Tia, but the judge decided he could not be sure sexual motivation was involved in the murder.

Lord Carlile said Hazell’s change of plea was:

"probably the bravest decision he's ever made in his life. Perhaps the only brave decision"

Det Ch Insp Nick Scola said he was "very pleased" with the sentence, and added:

"Hazell will have a very long time in prison to think about what he has done,"

As Hazell was led away, someone in the public gallery shouted "beast".

When asked outside court if she was happy with the sentence, Tia’s mother Natalie Sharp said "no". A statement read out in court included:

"I gave the ultimate trust to Stuart. " "Sometimes I feel pity, that I want to hurt him, but I can never hurt him like he has hurt me."

Tia Sharp was described as the 12-year-old who was murdered after Hazell sexually assaulted her.

Appeals

No appeals were stated.

Other persons and related outcomes

Paul Meehan was charged with wasting police time. He denied the charge at Croydon magistrates’ court and was released on bail for a one-day trial on 29 July. On 5 August 2013, Paul Meehan was found guilty of wasting police time and sentenced to five months in prison.

On 7 December, it was announced that Tia Sharp’s grandmother would not face charges.

Aftermath

Tia Sharp was cremated on 14 September after a private family funeral.

In June 2013, Steven Carter announced he was going to be a father again because his girlfriend was pregnant. In July 2013, Steven Carter said he backed a plan for websites to be told to block certain search terms and warn people when they try to view illegal content.

Alison Saunders said the family was in an extremely distressing time, adding:

"This is an extremely distressing time for the family. " "I hope that this prosecution and the result can provide them with some small crumb of comfort in what has been a terrible time for them."

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola also said outside court that while finding the body during the first two searches would have meant he was charged sooner, it "would not have made any difference" to what happened afterwards.

Other details

Hazell told police that Tia had left the house on 3 August 2012 to travel to Croydon to buy shoes in the Whitgift Centre.

An uncle, David Sharp, made a televised plea on 7 August for Tia’s safe return.

The inquest confirmed the identity of the body on 16 August.

Tia’s body was described as having been hidden in the loft wrapped in a black bed sheet and layers including black bag materials, and it was described as being concealed in the loft for about a week.

The court heard that Hazell had previous convictions, with details including offences stretching back to 1991 and convictions for drug dealing, racially aggravated common assault, burglary, and causing grievous bodily harm, and other offences including possession of a machete in a public place in 2010 and dealing cocaine in 2003 (for which he was jailed for 34 months). The court also heard he had psychiatric history including suicide attempts and self harm.

Hazell was described as having a troubled childhood, having gone into care at a young age while his father was in prison, having little contact with his mother, and being involved in petty crime.

Lord Carlile told the court Hazell started drinking at the age of 13, had trouble at school, and claimed he was raped aged 16 at a homeless hostel in Soho.

A consultant psychiatrist was said to have told the court that Hazell fulfilled criteria for unsocialised conduct disorder.

Hazell denied abducting Tia during the hunt and said she was “like my own daughter”. Hazell said:

"My previous has got nothing to do with it. Everyone's got a shady past. " "Did I do anything to Tia? No I bloody didn't. I'd never think of that."

During his police interviews, Hazell described Tia as “a happy-go-lucky golden angel”, and he said:

"I know deep down in my heart that Tia walked out of my house. I know she was seen walking down the pathway, she made her way down that track," "What happened after that? I don't know."

Hazell also described he did not know what happened after she left.

Hazell sent Christine Bicknell a text at 10.12pm:

"Tia’s going to bed after Family Guy baby then I’m going to pass out."

He sent another message at 11.44pm:

"Night, night baby, call you tomorrow."

A letter written by Hazell to his father from prison included:

"What happened I will explain in time, but put it this way, it was an accident and I panicked."

The letter was headed with:

"forgive me"

A quote from Andrew Edis QC in trial included:

"We do not know and never will know what took place in that house that night. " "But it is clear that Hazell committed a significant sexual offence against her, killed her, took her photograph as some form of keepsake, and then in quite a calculated way wrapped up the body and got it up to the loft."

Andrew Edis QC also stated:

"The prosecution case is that Stuart Hazell had a sexual attraction for Tia Sharp, that there was some form of sexual assault, something of that kind, and that was the reason he killed her."

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola said:

"The evidence was overwhelming and clearly Hazell realised he had no choice but to plead guilty. However, he put Tia's family through a week of heart-breaking evidence in court and I wish for their sakes he had admitted his guilt sooner."

A victim impact statement read to the court included:

"I gave the ultimate trust to Stuart and there is so much that I want to ask him. " "Since Tia was taken, I have lost my trust in everyone. It is too hard for me to believe that she is really gone. I try to think of her being on a sleepover at her friend's house. " "Jack, my eldest son who is three, asked me just this week if Tia was coming home from school soon. I've had to tell him the truth. It made him really cry. I told him that Tia is a star in the sky and now when we go up to say goodnight, we look out of the bedroom window and speak to the star, the one that was bought in Tia's name. " "I breathe for my children. I fear anyone hurting my boys. I fear that if anyone touches my sons or does anything to them, what I might do, I am so scared and angry. I have been so badly hurt by people I don't know and who know nothing of me. " "People have said the most terrible things about me as a mother and Tia's life. I can't understand how people who know nothing about somebody can send such awful messages. " "I've been stared at and physically attacked and I know people judge me when they see me buying something nice for my sons."

A statement later attributed to Tia’s father Steven Carter included:

"The murder of my daughter Tia has shattered mine and my family's hearts. We will never get our heads around what has happened to Tia. " "My daughter Tia's life has been taken from us all, as we will never get the opportunity to share her 13th, 16th, 18th or 21st birthdays. " "We will never have the chance to see Tia walk down the aisle and get married, and have children of her own. We have all lost someone special. " "The love for Tia will always be with us, our memories of Tia smiling and playing will never be forgotten. " "My last memory of Tia is her jumping into my arms giving me a kiss and her telling me she loved me. " "I will never get this opportunity again, but it is one of the many memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. " "The community of New Addington has lost someone special and they themselves will never forget Tia. " "Myself and those of my family with children will never be the same as we all have stopped our children's freedom to go out and play, as we fear of something happening."

Angie Niles, speaking after Hazell changed his plea to guilty, said:

"It's a very emotional time for all of the family who are sitting here around the TV, but in a strange way we also feel relief. " "It says a lot about the man, just when you thought he couldn't do anymore to our family he's dragged this out over months insisting he was innocent and only now at the very last moment has he put his hands up and admitted what he has done. " "In a strange way I feel like it had to happen this way - maybe it's good that a judge and members of the public have had the chance to hear exactly what this sick man has done. " "Maybe it's good for all of us to have heard the truth in court so that none of this was buried, none of this remains secret. " "It does feel like some sort of closure, it feels like it was the right time. Now we can get on with grieving for my beloved grand-daughter. The process isn't easy but now we can get on as best as we can. I hope the judge locks him up forever and throws away the key. He doesn't deserve anymore than that."

In sentencing remarks, the judge described Hazell’s coping strategies as "drugs and alcohol" and stated that none of these matters was an excuse for what Hazell did to Tia.

The judge described the minimum term of 38 years and indicated that Hazell will be 75 years old before he is eligible for parole.