Knowledge

Murder of Angela Wrightson

Source 📝

188:, in which Wrightson could be seen with facial injuries. At approximately 23:00, two of Wrightson's friends visited the property in anticipation of drinking with her. After shouting and banging on her window, they found Wrightson's front door unlocked and the living room in a state of "devastation" while the two teenagers and Wrightson hid out of sight. Wrightson's friends left, and some point after this the girls paused the attack while they went to visit a friend. They returned to Stephen Street at approximately 02:00 on 9 December to continue the attack. 176:. The girls had visited Wrightson to get her to buy alcohol and cigarettes for them; she obliged and was shown on CCTV buying cider at a local shop while the girls remained at her home. The CCTV images showed that Wrightson had no significant injuries at this time; she returned to Stephen Street at approximately 19:30. At some point after this, likely soon after, the girls began subjecting Wrightson to a prolonged beating using weapons such as a shovel, an 18-inch (460 mm) wooden 132:, England. She was attacked over the course of seven hours by two teenage girls using various household objects. The first trial began in 2015, but was suspended after information about the defendants was circulated on social media. The following year, after a second trial, both girls were found guilty and subsequently given minimum prison terms of 15 years. 168:
On the afternoon of 8 December 2014, Wrightson was visited by her landlord at her Stephen Street home and was argumentative and violent, throwing her keys at him multiple times. He left, with her keys, following an argument about purchasing alcohol for her, and described her as drunk but not showing
303:
retrospectively described how he effectively "ordered media outlets to remove every comment about the trial from any news article and social media post", remove outbound hyperlinks from their websites, and "refrain from issuing or forwarding tweets relating to the trial". It was their opinion that
398:
if their identities were revealed. The judgment stated that the event of one of the girls' identities being revealed may lead to "jigsaw identification" whereby the other's identity may be determined. Therefore, both should have anonymity which can be reviewed in the future if there is a material
259:
and expressed an interest in Wrightson's death as well as prison sentences for murder. The younger girl spoke to friends and was reported to be "quiet and shaking"; she too seemed interested in the case and sent a text message to one friend saying "I might be getting sent down".
372:. On 11 February 2016, Leveson granted the appeal but with imposed restrictions: the media may report the retrial but without the use of social media or allowing comments on articles; and they may not report on the legal challenge until the verdicts of the trial had been given. 214:
At the time of the attack, the girls were aged 13 and 14. Both had experienced physical abuse from their biological parents. The girls were resident in the care system; the elder was living in a children's home and the younger with a
973: 206:
At approximately 08:45 on 9 December, Wrightson's landlord returned to the house to return her keys. He found her body on the couch; she had sustained 103 injuries of which 80 were to her head.
242:
reported that the mother of the elder girl was concerned that she was "going to parties, possibly having sexual intercourse" as well as physically assaulting her younger siblings.
191:
Following the attack, the girls left Wrightson on her couch either semiconscious, unconscious, or dead. They left the property at 04:00, and one of the girls texted her
160:, and a boyfriend had died from an alcohol-related illness. She served a number of prison sentences and, following her last release in 2011, had moved to Hartlepool. 653: 1083: 768: 1166: 1186: 947: 797: 394:
ruled on 4 February 2021 that both perpetrators should have lifetime anonymity to prevent jeopardising their continued rehabilitation and the risk of
384: 199:
for a lift home from the police. En route home with the police, the girls posed for a Snapchat photograph with the caption "in the back the
54: 1171: 931:
once returned to a care home with a black eye caused by her mother"; "The review described as 'hostile, physically abusive and blaming'
357: 277: 387:. On 6 April, both girls were found guilty of murder, and the following day were sentenced to minimum terms of 15 years' imprisonment. 1181: 365: 195:
to come and collect her. With no response, and correctly assuming they would have been reported missing, the girls twice telephoned
226:
bodies, the Teesside Safeguarding Adults Board and the Hartlepool Safeguarding Children Board, reported that both girls engaged in
706: 1176: 196: 1191: 998: 1135: 461: 743: 304:
this "effectively meant had to remove all reports of the trial or disable every hyperlink" on the BBC website. Citing
47: 380: 974:"Girls who posted Snapchat selfies as they tortured and murdered vulnerable alcoholic 'could not be stopped'" 408: 153: 507: 391: 313: 1084:"Judge says 'no evidence' teenagers accused of Angela Wrightson killing had '˜done someone in before'" 284: 346: 239: 219:. Two months before the murder, the elder girl had been arrested for assault on care home workers. 124:
On the night of 8–9 December 2014, 39-year-old Angela Wrightson was beaten to death in her home in
99: 321: 376: 227: 173: 654:"Angela Wrightson murder: Teenage killers go to High Court in bid to keep identities hidden" 341: 261: 141: 420: 336: 309: 305: 535: 369: 295:
soon ended the trial when information about the defendants was disclosed and shared on
181: 40: 1057: 1024: 914: 881: 852: 679: 276:
at the time of the offence, the identity of the two teenage girls is protected by the
1160: 361: 288: 216: 129: 36: 330: 296: 256: 235: 223: 1109: 769:"Teenage girls 'beat an alcoholic woman to death and shared selfies in her home'" 627: 596: 562: 414: 292: 273: 231: 172:
That evening, two teenage girls visited Wrightson's home, a known location for
157: 149: 145: 125: 32: 69: 56: 395: 352: 948:"Teenage girls who tortured Angela Wrightson to death given life sentences" 264:
launched a murder investigation and both girls were arrested the same day.
882:"Angela Wrightson death: Murder accused asked 'how does it feel to kill?'" 999:"Anonymity granted for child defendants in Angela Wrightson murder trial" 826: 325: 185: 1110:"Angela Wrightson murder: Girls given life terms for 'cowardly' killing" 508:"Sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Globe, Leeds Crown Court 7 April 2016" 390:
A hearing on 21 and 22 October 2020 upheld the perpetrators' anonymity.
200: 440:
Reports differ to whether the attack lasted up to five or seven hours
177: 140:
Angela Marjorie "Angie" Wrightson (born 1974 or 1975) was a
798:"Girls aged 13 and 14 beat woman to death in her home, court hears" 356:, although the restrictions were upheld. The case was taken to the 1058:"Angela Wrightson murder: How the media fought to report the case" 192: 184:. At approximately 21:00, one of the girls posted a photograph on 156:
and reportedly began drinking as a child. Wrightson suffered from
299:. Globe described "an avalanche of prejudicial comment", and the 542:. British and Irish Legal Information Institute. 4 February 2021 462:"England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019" 317: 300: 628:"Angela Wrightson killers: A friendship that ended in murder" 707:"Two teenage girls found guilty of Angela Wrightson murder" 853:"Angela Wrightson: Accused girls 'phoned police for lift'" 680:"Angela Wrightson: Teenage torture killers keep anonymity" 563:"Who was Angela Wrightson, and why was she so vulnerable?" 915:"Angela Wrightson: Failings revealed over torture-murder" 536:"Neutral Citation Number: [2021] EWHC 157 (QB)" 1025:"Angela Wrightson: Teen murderers 'at risk' if named" 423:– Britain's youngest female double murderer (aged 15) 597:"Angela Wrightson: A chaotic life and brutal death" 114: 106: 85: 46: 28: 23: 379:; both girls denied murder but the elder admitted 737: 735: 733: 731: 729: 727: 16:Murder of vulnerable adult by two teenagers in UK 941: 939: 827:"Angela Wrightson: Girls found guilty of murder" 792: 790: 1052: 1050: 1048: 1046: 909: 907: 905: 903: 876: 874: 821: 819: 622: 620: 618: 591: 589: 587: 585: 583: 417:– Britain's youngest female murderer (aged 12) 502: 411:– murder of a toddler by two 10-year-old boys 8: 744:"Angela Wrightson's murder: how it unfolded" 500: 498: 496: 494: 492: 490: 488: 486: 484: 482: 375:The same month, the second trial began at 230:and that the younger girl was involved in 20: 530: 528: 453: 433: 255:On 9 December, the elder girl spoke to 1003:Youth Justice Law in England and Wales 283:The first trial began in July 2015 at 7: 278:Children and Young Persons Act 1933 1167:2014 murders in the United Kingdom 14: 1187:Violence against women in England 152:, she spent her childhood in the 972:Wilkinson, Tom (13 June 2017). 946:Parveen, Nazia (7 April 2016). 742:Sheldrick, Tom (5 April 2016). 705:Parveen, Nazia (6 April 2016). 144:who lived on Stephen Street in 1: 561:Breen, Julia (13 June 2017). 513:. Youth Justice Legal Centre 1208: 1172:Murder committed by minors 180:driven with screws, and a 24:Murder of Angela Wrightson 1141:. Royal Courts of Justice 399:change in circumstances. 385:diminished responsibility 110:Various household objects 89:8 December 2014 1182:British female murderers 1088:www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk 1177:Murder in County Durham 169:any signs of injuries. 409:Murder of James Bulger 310:reporting restrictions 268:Trials and convictions 1192:History of Hartlepool 314:Associated Newspapers 466:www.findmypast.co.uk 366:Lady Justice Hallett 362:Lord Justice Leveson 285:Teesside Crown Court 1136:"Approved Judgment" 312:were challenged by 291:, although Justice 240:serious case review 238:activity. The 2017 66: /  888:. 23 February 2016 859:. 17 February 2016 804:. 17 February 2016 775:. 17 February 2016 383:on the grounds of 370:Lady Justice Sharp 322:Express Newspapers 148:. Originally from 70:54.6897°N 1.2275°W 1031:. 22 October 2020 686:. 4 February 2021 660:. 22 October 2020 377:Leeds Crown Court 246:Legal proceedings 228:underage drinking 174:underage drinking 122: 121: 1199: 1151: 1150: 1148: 1146: 1140: 1132: 1126: 1125: 1123: 1121: 1106: 1100: 1099: 1097: 1095: 1080: 1074: 1073: 1071: 1069: 1054: 1041: 1040: 1038: 1036: 1021: 1015: 1014: 1012: 1010: 995: 989: 988: 986: 984: 969: 963: 962: 960: 958: 943: 934: 933: 928: 926: 911: 898: 897: 895: 893: 878: 869: 868: 866: 864: 849: 843: 842: 840: 838: 823: 814: 813: 811: 809: 794: 785: 784: 782: 780: 765: 759: 758: 756: 754: 739: 722: 721: 719: 717: 702: 696: 695: 693: 691: 676: 670: 669: 667: 665: 650: 644: 643: 641: 639: 624: 613: 612: 610: 608: 593: 578: 577: 575: 573: 558: 552: 551: 549: 547: 532: 523: 522: 520: 518: 512: 504: 477: 476: 474: 472: 458: 441: 438: 342:The Mirror Group 262:Cleveland Police 142:vulnerable adult 118:Angela Wrightson 96: 94: 81: 80: 78: 77: 76: 75:54.6897; -1.2275 71: 67: 64: 63: 62: 59: 21: 1207: 1206: 1202: 1201: 1200: 1198: 1197: 1196: 1157: 1156: 1155: 1154: 1144: 1142: 1138: 1134: 1133: 1129: 1119: 1117: 1108: 1107: 1103: 1093: 1091: 1082: 1081: 1077: 1067: 1065: 1056: 1055: 1044: 1034: 1032: 1023: 1022: 1018: 1008: 1006: 1005:. 15 April 2016 997: 996: 992: 982: 980: 978:The Independent 971: 970: 966: 956: 954: 945: 944: 937: 924: 922: 913: 912: 901: 891: 889: 880: 879: 872: 862: 860: 851: 850: 846: 836: 834: 825: 824: 817: 807: 805: 796: 795: 788: 778: 776: 773:The Independent 767: 766: 762: 752: 750: 741: 740: 725: 715: 713: 704: 703: 699: 689: 687: 678: 677: 673: 663: 661: 652: 651: 647: 637: 635: 626: 625: 616: 606: 604: 595: 594: 581: 571: 569: 560: 559: 555: 545: 543: 534: 533: 526: 516: 514: 510: 506: 505: 480: 470: 468: 460: 459: 455: 450: 445: 444: 439: 435: 430: 421:Lorraine Thorpe 405: 358:Court of Appeal 337:The Independent 306:public interest 270: 253: 248: 236:underage sexual 222:Reviews by two 212: 166: 138: 97: 92: 90: 74: 72: 68: 65: 60: 57: 55: 53: 52: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1205: 1203: 1195: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1159: 1158: 1153: 1152: 1127: 1116:. 7 April 2016 1101: 1090:. 4 April 2016 1075: 1064:. 6 April 2016 1042: 1016: 990: 964: 935: 921:. 13 June 2017 899: 870: 844: 833:. 5 April 2016 815: 786: 760: 723: 697: 671: 645: 634:. 13 June 2017 614: 603:. 5 April 2016 579: 553: 540:www.bailii.org 524: 478: 452: 451: 449: 446: 443: 442: 432: 431: 429: 426: 425: 424: 418: 412: 404: 401: 392:The High Court 269: 266: 252: 249: 247: 244: 211: 208: 182:CRT television 165: 162: 137: 134: 120: 119: 116: 112: 111: 108: 104: 103: 87: 83: 82: 50: 44: 43: 41:United Kingdom 30: 26: 25: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1204: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1164: 1162: 1137: 1131: 1128: 1115: 1111: 1105: 1102: 1089: 1085: 1079: 1076: 1063: 1059: 1053: 1051: 1049: 1047: 1043: 1030: 1026: 1020: 1017: 1004: 1000: 994: 991: 979: 975: 968: 965: 953: 949: 942: 940: 936: 932: 920: 916: 910: 908: 906: 904: 900: 887: 883: 877: 875: 871: 858: 854: 848: 845: 832: 828: 822: 820: 816: 803: 799: 793: 791: 787: 774: 770: 764: 761: 749: 745: 738: 736: 734: 732: 730: 728: 724: 712: 708: 701: 698: 685: 681: 675: 672: 659: 658:Northern Echo 655: 649: 646: 633: 629: 623: 621: 619: 615: 602: 598: 592: 590: 588: 586: 584: 580: 568: 564: 557: 554: 541: 537: 531: 529: 525: 509: 503: 501: 499: 497: 495: 493: 491: 489: 487: 485: 483: 479: 467: 463: 457: 454: 447: 437: 434: 427: 422: 419: 416: 413: 410: 407: 406: 402: 400: 397: 393: 388: 386: 382: 378: 373: 371: 367: 363: 359: 355: 354: 349: 348: 347:The Telegraph 343: 339: 338: 333: 332: 327: 323: 319: 315: 311: 307: 302: 298: 294: 290: 289:Middlesbrough 286: 281: 279: 275: 267: 265: 263: 258: 257:youth workers 250: 245: 243: 241: 237: 234:and possible 233: 229: 225: 220: 218: 217:foster family 209: 207: 204: 202: 198: 194: 189: 187: 183: 179: 175: 170: 163: 161: 159: 155: 151: 147: 143: 135: 133: 131: 130:County Durham 127: 117: 113: 109: 105: 101: 88: 84: 79: 51: 49: 45: 42: 38: 37:County Durham 34: 31: 27: 22: 19: 1143:. Retrieved 1130: 1118:. Retrieved 1113: 1104: 1092:. Retrieved 1087: 1078: 1066:. Retrieved 1061: 1033:. Retrieved 1028: 1019: 1007:. Retrieved 1002: 993: 981:. Retrieved 977: 967: 955:. Retrieved 952:The Guardian 951: 930: 923:. Retrieved 918: 890:. Retrieved 885: 861:. Retrieved 856: 847: 835:. Retrieved 830: 806:. Retrieved 802:The Guardian 801: 777:. Retrieved 772: 763: 751:. Retrieved 747: 714:. Retrieved 711:The Guardian 710: 700: 688:. Retrieved 683: 674: 662:. Retrieved 657: 648: 636:. Retrieved 631: 605:. Retrieved 600: 570:. Retrieved 566: 556: 544:. Retrieved 539: 515:. Retrieved 469:. Retrieved 465: 456: 436: 389: 381:manslaughter 374: 351: 345: 335: 331:The Guardian 329: 297:social media 282: 271: 254: 224:safeguarding 221: 213: 210:Perpetrators 205: 203:van again". 190: 171: 167: 139: 123: 18: 1145:21 February 863:14 February 415:Sharon Carr 293:Henry Globe 232:drug misuse 154:care system 73: / 48:Coordinates 1161:Categories 1120:5 February 1094:6 February 1068:5 February 1035:5 February 1009:7 February 983:7 February 957:7 February 925:9 February 892:5 February 837:5 February 808:6 February 779:6 February 753:6 February 716:5 February 690:5 February 664:6 February 638:5 February 607:5 February 572:5 February 546:5 February 517:5 February 471:8 February 448:References 158:alcoholism 150:Darlington 146:Hartlepool 126:Hartlepool 93:2014-12-08 58:54°41′23″N 33:Hartlepool 567:The Argus 428:Footnotes 396:self-harm 353:The Times 61:1°13′39″W 1114:BBC News 1062:BBC News 1029:BBC News 919:BBC News 886:BBC News 857:BBC News 831:BBC News 748:ITV News 684:BBC News 632:BBC News 601:BBC News 403:See also 326:Sky News 308:, these 186:Snapchat 29:Location 360:before 251:Arrests 107:Weapons 98:19:30 ( 91: ( 350:, and 316:, the 274:minors 201:bizzie 178:batten 164:Attack 136:Victim 115:Victim 1139:(PDF) 511:(PDF) 272:Both 193:carer 1147:2021 1122:2021 1096:2021 1070:2021 1037:2021 1011:2021 985:2021 959:2021 927:2021 894:2021 865:2021 839:2021 810:2021 781:2021 755:2021 718:2021 692:2021 666:2021 640:2021 609:2021 574:2021 548:2021 519:2021 473:2021 368:and 86:Date 318:BBC 301:BBC 287:in 197:999 100:GMT 1163:: 1112:. 1086:. 1060:. 1045:^ 1027:. 1001:. 976:. 950:. 938:^ 929:. 917:. 902:^ 884:. 873:^ 855:. 829:. 818:^ 800:. 789:^ 771:. 746:. 726:^ 709:. 682:. 656:. 630:. 617:^ 599:. 582:^ 565:. 538:. 527:^ 481:^ 464:. 364:, 344:, 340:, 334:, 328:, 324:, 320:, 280:. 128:, 39:, 35:, 1149:. 1124:. 1098:. 1072:. 1039:. 1013:. 987:. 961:. 896:. 867:. 841:. 812:. 783:. 757:. 720:. 694:. 668:. 642:. 611:. 576:. 550:. 521:. 475:. 102:) 95:)

Index

Hartlepool
County Durham
United Kingdom
Coordinates
54°41′23″N 1°13′39″W / 54.6897°N 1.2275°W / 54.6897; -1.2275
GMT
Hartlepool
County Durham
vulnerable adult
Hartlepool
Darlington
care system
alcoholism
underage drinking
batten
CRT television
Snapchat
carer
999
bizzie
foster family
safeguarding
underage drinking
drug misuse
underage sexual
serious case review
youth workers
Cleveland Police
minors
Children and Young Persons Act 1933

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.