Georgia Williams's parents face agonising wait over murderer's appeal
Georgia Williams's parents may have to wait for weeks to find out whether their daughter's murderer has succeeded in reducing his whole life sentence.
Jamie Reynolds, 24, appealed to the Royal Courts of Justice in London to overturn his lifelong imprisonment for murdering the 17-year-old from Wellington.
Steven and Lynnette Williams were at the court in the Strand to see Reynolds appear via video link from HMP Wakefield, Yorkshire, yesterday.
Reynolds's appearance had altered dramatically since he was sentenced to life behind bars by Mr Justice Wilkie at Stafford Crown Court in December.
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His previously curly hair had been cropped short, his beard shaved off and he appeared heavier. He spoke only to confirm his name.
Hearing the appeal were Lord Chief Justice John Thomas, Mr Justice Wyn Williams and Mr Justice Nigel Sweeney who stated due to "the gravity of the case" they would need to view photographs Reynolds took of Georgia before, during and after the murder.
The horrifying images show how Reynolds lured the teenager – who considered him a friend – to his home in Avondale Road, Wellington, where he hanged her in a meticulously planned attack he had written as a story called "Georgia Williams in Surprise".
Reynolds harboured sick fantasies to kill other young women and Mr Justice Wilkie agreed with psychiatric reports that Reynolds had the potential to become a serial killer.
Mr Michael Duck, QC for Reynolds, said his guilty plea should have been given more weight during sentencing.
"There was no trial in this case and this was a mercy to Georgia Williams's family that there was not a rehearsal of the facts of the case," said Mr Duck.
He also argued against the use of sentencing guidelines for an adult who had murdered a child because Reynolds was 22 and Georgia 17 at the time.
Mr Richard Whittam, QC for the Crown, said: "This is one of the most serious offences in the criminal calendar."
He added that Reynolds's "extreme amount of planning", his "cool" disposal of Georgia's body, his removal of her jewellery as trophies and the act of texting her mother after her death, were all factors to be taken into account.
