1998
‘This was an act of unparalleled evil and barbarity. On the fifteenth of July last year, Child X purposefully abducted two-year-old Kirstie Swann and yet she has consistently denied culpability for her crime. Furthermore, she is silent as to the course of events and thus Kirstie’s parents are unable, at the very least, to try and fathom the motive behind the brutal attack on their young daughter. At this juncture, I should like to say that in the absence of any explanation from the Defendant, it is beyond us, as sentient adults, to fathom why on God’s earth this crime should ever have taken place.
‘How it came about that a mentally normal girl, aged ten, and of average intelligence, committed this crime is hard to comprehend. It is not for me to pass judgment on her upbringing. In fairness to Child X’s father, it is very much to his credit that he made every effort to get his daughter to tell the truth. But the people of Grassington who have been involved in this case cannot ever forget the tragic circumstances of Kirstie Swann’s murder. I would like to make a special point here of saying that I am sure everyone in court today will especially wish Mrs Swann well in the months ahead and hope that her new baby will bring her a measure of peace and happiness.
‘I am required by the law, with such a verdict as I am given by this jury, who find Child X guilty of abduction and murder, to sentence her to Detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure, and this I accordingly and rightfully do. In view of the seriousness of this crime, and the incomprehensible nature of it given Child X’s apparently stable upbringing, I would recommend a tariff of no less than eight years until she reaches the age of eighteen. Then she will, of course, be subject to the rigours of parole.
‘I now turn to the application made on behalf of the Newspaper Group that the identity of Child X should be revealed. I have given this matter considerable thought. I am aware of the high level of interest in this case on a national and indeed a global level. It is my considered view that Child X’s detention will be for such a period – and indeed I have recommended thus – as to render the revelation of her identity benign, in light of the passage of years that will have elapsed by the time she is released from detention. I also consider that her identity will be important to scholars of jurisprudence and those who interpret the law, in their attempt to make sense of this crime. As such, I rule that her name shall be unredacted in my judgment, which will be published in accordance with the usual timetable.
‘Finally, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the seven women and five men who have sat on the jury during the course of the trial. This has been a truly dreadful task we have asked of them and yet they have fulfilled their duty admirably and without fault. In doing so, they have had to witness unspeakable horrors and hear of behaviour quite unnatural. The interests of justice have been well served by them.
‘Court dismissed.’