Mum pays tribute to ‘funny, loving’ daughter who was murdered by her father

Tragic Alexa-Marie Quinn was beaten to death by her father, Carl Wheatley (Image: Archant)

Carl Wheatley was today given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 21 years, for murdering Alexa-Marie at his Queen Bee Court home in Hatfield.

Alexa-Marie died on March 12 last year as a result of a savage beating.

Wheatley, 31, had only been given custody of his daughter the previous December.

In a statement released after the sentence, Alexa-Marie’s mum Victoria said: “My daughter Alexa-Marie was a wonderful little girl. She was funny, loving and a child you could never be angry with.

“She was beautiful on the inside and out.

“Myself and my extended family have been deeply traumatised by what Carl Wheatley has done.

“He has taken away an angel, a little girl so precious and our lives will never be the same. How anyone could cause such pain and suffering to someone so young and so sweet is truly beyond me.”

And the distraught mother continued: “Alexa-Marie was taken from us in the cruellest of ways.

“We have been sentenced to a lifetime of pain knowing that we won’t ever see her again.

“She will never have the chance to make daisy chains or go to a school prom and we will never be able to celebrate happy occasions, such as birthdays, Christmas and Mother’s Day, because of what this man has done.

“Since the day Alexa-Marie died, we as a family have struggled to cope.

“However, hearing today’s verdict and knowing that Carl Wheatley will be in prison for a long time does at least serve some justice.

“I would like to thank my family for their never ending support. I would also like to thank all of the officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit who have investigated the case and supported us.

“Finally I would like to thank the Homicide Casework Team and other support services that have been of great help to me in recent months and will continue to do so.”