Justice at last as Hatfield killer gets 27 years

AS murderer Richard Clare was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years behind bars for slitting his love rival’s throat, a second family were relieved to have “justice at last”.

Clare was found guilty of murdering Peter McConnell, wrapping him from head-to-toe in parcel tape and burying him in the garden of his Hatfield home.

Once the jury had returned its verdict, they were shocked to be told Clare was a double-killer.

The 38-year-old from Fern Dells had claimed self-defence in a previous trial six years earlier. He was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter, despite admitting striking Timothy Magee with a dessert spoon in the back of the head, which caused a fatal bleed.

Timothy’s aunt Sue had been in court to hear Clare, 38, sentenced to life. Afterwards she told the WHT: “I’m so really pleased, we’ve got justice for Timmy as well.”

Timmy’s mother Berenice Waite said she was pleased Clare had been given a long sentence.

She said: “Nothing will ever bring back Tim, but it would be nice for him to have justice. It’s a nice Christmas present I suppose.”

The sister of murder victim Peter McConnell, who was due to celebrate his 44th birthday on Christmas Day, told the court Clare’s treatment of her brother had been horrific.

*For full murder trial report see this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times.