BREAKING: Judge’s comments as 15-year-olds sentenced to life for Spalding murders

Two 15-year-olds who murdered Spalding dinner lady Liz Edwards and her youngest daughter Katie have been given life sentences and serve at least 20 years.

The boy and girl were 14 when they carried out the murders at Mrs Edwards’ home in Dawson Avenue in April.

Passing sentence at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 10), Mr Justice Haddon-Cave described the case as a “terrible crime” with few modern parallels.

“They were stabbed in the throat and smothered,” Mr Justice Haddon-Cave told the killers as they sat in a glass panelled dock.

The girl, now 15, was found guilty of both murders after a trial last month. The boy, also 15, had previously admitted both murders.

The pair showed little reaction as Mr Justice Haddon-Cave summed up his sentencing remarks.

The judge said the girl chose one knife to kill Katie but then changed her mind. The boy then selected the largest knife to kill Mrs Edwards.

“There was remarkable premeditation and planning, ” Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said.

He added: “Both victims were vulnerable at home in their beds.”

The judge added the killers had expressed “happiness” at what they had done. He told both the girl and boy: “You were not 15 when you committed these murders.”

The judge told them he would sentence them both as children.

“It was entirely a joint offence,” the judge said. “Both of you could have backed out at anytime.”

The judge added the pair had “revelled” in what they did.

Det Ch Insp Martin Holvey, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “This has been a rare and unprecedented case and everybody who has listened to the details as they have emerged throughout the trial will, I am sure, have felt the same sense of shock and disbelief.

“The planning that went into the brutal murders of Elizabeth and Katie as they slept in their beds was cold, ruthless and chilling, as was the lack of remorse shown by the two juveniles afterwards.

“This matter-of-factness is all the more shocking given the fact that they were both only 14 years of age at the time.

“I hope after today’s sentence, everyone affected by this terrible crime can begin to rebuild their lives and the community of Spalding can move forward.”

Meanwhile, Karen Thompson, deputy chief crown prosecutor at CPS East Midlands, said: “This is one of the most distressing and disturbing cases that I and my team have ever encountered.

“The CPS has from the outset been confident that the appropriate charge for both defendants was one of murder. We were not willing to accept any lesser charge based on the defendants’ mental health difficulties, so the case was rightly taken to trial.

“The male defendant accepted his guilt on the first day of trial. The other defendant maintained her not guilty plea but, after the jury heard all the medical evidence presented they concluded that any difficulties that she may have had did not prevent her forming an intent to kill. She was therefore convicted of the murder of both victims.

“Our deepest sympathies are now with the extended family and friends of Elizabeth and Katie Edwards as they attempt to come to terms with this horrific crime.”