Babes in the Wood’s ex-girlfriend, killer Russell Bishop, has been jailed for six years for perjury and for perverting the course of justice.
Jennifer Johnson, 55, was accused of prolifically lying during Bishop’s trial in 1987, when he was acquitted of the murders of nine-year-old schoolgirls Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows.
In 1990, Bishop abducted and sexually assaulted another young girl, leaving her for dead.
It wasn’t until a retrial in 2018 that he was finally convicted of murdering Karen and Nicola, whom he sexually assaulted and strangled in a wooded den in Brighton in October 1986.
Johnson, who insisted she acted under duress and “had no choice but to lie during the trial more than three decades ago, was sentenced Monday.
She declined to appear in person for her conviction on Wednesday, which took place at Lewes Crown Court – the same location Bishop’s 1987 trial took place.
In condemning Johnson, Judge Fraser said that “his refusal to show up today is an example of your refusal to accept what you have done.”
“The effect of your dishonesty has lasted for over three decades,” he added.
Johnson’s perjury “led” to not guilty verdicts in 1987, the judge continued, and although he admits that she had suffered from mental health issues, he did not admit that she was in. a “controlling and coercive relationship” with Bishop prior to his offenses. .
Michelle Hadaway, Karen’s mother, told the court that Johnson’s lies “left me completely numb.”
She added, “I knew from then on that there was a good chance that this evil man could be acquitted.
“The pain I have had to endure over the loss of my beautiful daughter Karen over the past 30 years has been unbearable.”
Chris Henley QC, for the defense, said Johnson was a “vulnerable young mother in 1987, the mother of two very young children living very socially isolated lives …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-05-19 12:52:00
