Murder of Sophie Hook
1995 child murder in Wales / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The murder of Sophie Hook was a widely reported child murder which took place in Llandudno, North Wales, in July 1995.
Sophie Hook | |
---|---|
Born | Sophie Louise Hook (1988-05-27)27 May 1988 |
Died | 30 July 1995(1995-07-30) (aged 7) |
Cause of death | Strangulation |
Known for | Murder victim |
Sophie Louise Hook (27 May 1988 ā 30 July 1995) was a seven-year-old British child who was murdered in Llandudno, Wales in the early hours of 30 July 1995. She was from Great Budworth, near Northwich, Cheshire, but was staying at the Llandudno home of her uncle, Danny Jones, when she was murdered.[1] She had gone missing from a tent where she was camping in her uncle's garden, and her body was found washed up on a nearby beach several hours later.[2] Howard Hughes was arrested for the murder soon afterwards, and sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty in July 1996.
Following his trial, it was revealed that Hughes had been linked to multiple sex attacks against children, but police had been unable to prosecute either because of a lack of evidence or because the victims' parents had wanted to spare their children further ordeal in court.[3][4] As Hughes was sentenced, Mr Justice Richard Curtis said: "You are a fiend. Your crime is every parent's worst nightmare come to pass... No girl is, or ever will be, safe from you. My recommendation in view of your appalling crime and the maximum danger you pose to girls, is that you are never, ever released."[3][5] In November 2002 Home Secretary David Blunkett ruled that Hughes would have to serve a minimum term of 50 years in prison before he could be considered for parole.[6]