The Babes in the Wood killer’s former girlfriend has failed in her appeal bid after being found guilty of perjury.
Jennifer Johnson has been jailed after lying about key evidence as the murderer stood trial for killing two schoolgirls in Brighton.
The 56-year-old was convicted after her lies helped Russell Bishop evade justice for three decades.
Bishop was ultimately imprisoned over 30 years after the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway.
At that time, he had attacked and nearly killed another little girl.
Jennifer Johnson was jailed for six years in May last year
Bishop was 20 when he sexually assaulted and strangled the two girls in a wooded den in Wild Park in 1986.
Johnson lied about a blue sweater during Bishop’s original trial in 1987, where he was cleared of murdering the nine-year-old girls.
Bishop then kidnapped, assaulted and strangled a seven-year-old girl from Whitehawk less than three years later.
Jurors convicted Bishop following a trial at the Old Bailey on the 31st anniversary of his acquittal.
He was eventually jailed in 2018 for a minimum of 36 years. He has since died in prison.
Johnson was sentenced to six years in prison in May last year after a judge told her she had remained silent for decades despite knowing she had lied to protect a murderer.
Judge Peter Fraser said: ‘Your dishonest support for Bishop has gone on for several years.
“You didn’t finally tell the truth until 2019.
“The effect of your dishonesty has lasted for three decades.
“After watching you testify for three days, it’s hard to believe everything you say. You are a consummate liar.
“You wanted Bishop to be home with you, not in jail.”
Three judges rejected an appeal offer from Jennifer Johnson, 56.
Lord Justice Fulford, Mrs Justice Cutts and Mr Justice Henshaw refused to give Johnson the green light to challenge his conviction and sentence.
Bishop died in prison in January, it is understood he had cancer.
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-22 13:44:00
