Murder of Sasha Marsden
Sasha Marsden | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 May 1996 |
| Died | 31 January 2013 (aged 16) Blackpool, England |
| Cause of death | Murder (stabbed) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Student |
| Parent(s) | Gary and Jayne Marsden |
Sasha Marsden was a 16-year-old student studying childcare from Blackpool, England, who was stabbed to death on 31 January 2013.[1] Her body was then set on fire. It was alleged by the media that she had received threatening emails prior to the murder.[2] The murder received international coverage.[3]
Marsden was studying childcare at a local college. She lived with her parents in Staining near Blackpool. Six months earlier, she had been missing for six days before being found in Lowestoft, Suffolk.[4]
On the day of her murder, Marsden had been dropped off at the Grafton House Hotel, believing she was there for a job interview. Her body was found in an alleyway in Blackpool's South Shore district, and a post-mortem examination revealed attempts to set fire to it. She had been sexually assaulted, stabbed 58 times and her body wrapped in carpet underlay and bin liners.[5]
A 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from the local area were arrested on suspicion of murder the day after it was found.[4]
On 3 February 2013 David Minto, the caretaker of a local hotel, was charged with Marsden's murder while the woman was released without charge. Minto appeared in court the following day.[6] He pleaded not guilty on 24 April 2013. He was remanded in custody to stand trial on 15 July 2013.[7] On 26 July Minto was found guilty of Marsden's murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum time of 35 years to serve before being eligible for parole.[5]
Minto appealed against his sentence in February 2014, but it was upheld by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the minimum term of 35 years was upheld.[8]
Marsden's sister Gemma Aitchison now campaigns to help sexual assault victims and to change community attitudes, especially amongst young people.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sasha Marsden stabbed to death in Blackpool alley". BBC News. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Blackpool Stab Death: Teen 'Received Threat'". 3 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "Brutalt knivmord skakar England". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ a b Leach, Ben (2 February 2013). "Teenager found dead in alleyway died of stab wounds to head and face". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Barman Found Guilty Of Teenager's Murder". sky.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "Sasha Marsden killing in Blackpool: Man on murder charge". BBC News. 3 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Sasha Marsden killing in Blackpool: Man denies murder". BBC News. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Sasha killer fails in court appeal". blackpoolgazette.co.uk. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Scullard, Vickie (11 May 2019). "'My teenage sister was murdered by a sex beast - now trolls say they'll do the same to me'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 October 2020.