3/11/22, 6:53 PM Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-life prison sentence - BBC News

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England Local News Regions Coventry & Warwickshire

Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-

life prison sentence
2 hours ago

WEST MIDLANDS POLICE

Anthony Russell admitted the three murders and was found guilty of rape

A triple killer who raped a pregnant woman moments before strangling her
has been sentenced to a whole-life prison term.

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3/11/22, 6:53 PM Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-life prison sentence - BBC News

Anthony Russell, 39, murdered Julie Williams, her son David Williams and
Nicole McGregor, whose body was found in woodland near Leamington Spa.

Sentencing Russell in his absence, a judge described him as "exceptionally

dangerous and manipulative".

He had admitted the murders during a week-long spree in October 2020.

A jury also found him guilty of rape on Thursday after a retrial at Warwick
Crown Court.

The court heard he had assaulted Ms McGregor, who was five months
pregnant, just hours after she showed him a picture of her baby scan.

Police bodycam footage shows the moment Anthony Russell was arrested after one of the largest
manhunts in recent years

Mr Justice Wall told the court whole-life orders were only for "exceptionally
serious" cases.

"I have no doubt that this is a case which falls fairly and squarely within the
description," he said.

"Each [of the deaths] was the result of a separate murderous act which was
sustained and brutal."

"You will remain in custody for the rest or your life and will never be eligible to
apply to the parole board for your release."

Sati Ruck, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said while the reasons behind
Russell's killing spree may never be known, it was clear "all the attacks were
deliberate, cold-hearted and designed to achieve his own ends".
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3/11/22, 6:53 PM Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-life prison sentence - BBC News
, g

She added Russell's decision to deny raping Ms McGregor, despite "the

strength of the circumstantial evidence" against him, had forced her family to
"relive the tragic circumstances around her death at trial".

The court heard Russell, described as a "rather sad and pathetic individual" by
his own barrister, had refused to attend the sentencing hearing on Friday.

Attempts to get him in a prison van resulted in staff being put in "situations of
danger", the court was told.

Strangled with lanyard

West Midlands Police said it believed Mr Williams, 32, was killed due to
Russell's "mistaken belief that he was in a relationship with his girlfriend".

Russell, of Riley Square, Coventry, strangled him on 21 October with a lanyard,

before leaving the body under his bed, where it was found five days later with
87 injuries.

He then strangled Mr Williams' 58-year-old mother in an attack which saw him

inflict 113 separate injuries.

Officers suspect Russell "confessed to David's killing" and "then killed Julie to
stop her from speaking to the police", said Det Supt Shaun Edwards, of West
Midlands Police.

WEST MIDLANDS POLICE

Police said there was no known link between Russell and Nicole McGregor

Ms McGregor's body was discovered in woods on 29 October, three days after

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3/11/22, 6:53 PM Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-life prison sentence - BBC News
g y , y
she was strangled by Russell in Newbold Comyn.

Lured into woodland

The court heard that just three hours after meeting Russell, the 31-year-old
had agreed to walk into the woodland with him.

"We suggest that the defendant lured Nicole on to the Comyn, not for sex but
more likely for drugs," said prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC.

After the murder, heroin-user Russell pretended to help Ms McGregor's

partner look for her.

The court heard he had told her partner, the baby's father, "I bet you can't wait
for it to be born", despite knowing he had raped and killed her.

A victim impact statement read to the court from Ms McGregor's mother

Maggie said the death had "destroyed" her family.

"[Nicole] was caring, she was kind and behind her barriers, she had a heart of
gold."

A statement from Julie Williams' sister Carol said: "Sentencing will not bring
our family back but we hope it will stop the defendant from committing these
evil crimes on any more families."

FAMILY

Julie Williams and her son David Williams were found dead at separate addresses

The three deaths prompted one of the biggest UK manhunts in recent years.

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3/11/22, 6:53 PM Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-life prison sentence - BBC News

Russell fled Leamington by attacking and stealing a car from a 78-year-old

man.

He was eventually arrested after police spotted the stolen Ford C-Max parked
on a road near Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, and found Russell on the
back seat.

During sentencing, the judge described Russell as "a man prepared to use very
significant violence on anyone".

"You are exceptionally dangerous to those who know you, and those who do
not.

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story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

More on this story

Triple killer convicted of rape Triple killer 'strangled and raped'

final victim
1 day ago 4 days ago

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