November 10, 2016 3.44 pm This story is over 88 months old

Spalding murders: Inspector hopes community can recover after ‘cold, ruthless’ killings

A police inspector investigating the brutal double murder of Spalding mum Elizabeth Edwards and her 13-year-old daughter Katie has said he hopes the town can move forward after the pair were jailed for a minimum of 20 years. Detective Chief Inspector Martin Holvey described the case as “rare and unprecedented”, in the minutes following the…
DCI Martin Holvey speaking outside Nottingham Crown Court following the Spalding double murder trial. Photo: Alex Rhodes/BBC Radio Lincolnshire

A police inspector investigating the brutal double murder of Spalding mum Elizabeth Edwards and her 13-year-old daughter Katie has said he hopes the town can move forward after the pair were jailed for a minimum of 20 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Holvey described the case as “rare and unprecedented”, in the minutes following the sentence at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, November 10.

The couple are believed to be Britain’s youngest double murderers and have been likened to the infamous American criminals Bonnie and Clyde for their savage attack at a house on Dawson Avenue in April this year.

DCI Holvey 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.”

Elizabeth Edwards and her daughter Katie were murdered by two teenagers at their home in Spalding

Elizabeth Edwards and her daughter Katie were murdered by two teenagers at their home in Spalding

Distressing and disturbing

Karen Thompson, deputy chief crown prosecutor at CPS East Midlands, said that it was one of the most distressing and disturbing cases her team had witnessed.

She added: “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.”

Take a look back at how the trial unfolded: