Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ditch killer Joanna Dennehy stands by her guilty pleas to murdering three men

 

Ben Kendall
Friday 29 November 2013 12:08 GMT
Comments
Lukasz Slaboszewski, left, and John Chapman were both victims of Joanna Dennehy
Lukasz Slaboszewski, left, and John Chapman were both victims of Joanna Dennehy (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A female serial killer who has admitted murdering three men will stand by her guilty pleas.

The bodies of Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, Kevin Lee, 48, and John Chapman, 56, were found in ditches in Cambridgeshire in March.

Joanna Dennehy, 31, of Bifield, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to the murders at the Old Bailey but lawyers were granted time to apply to change these pleas after the court heard they were "unexpected".

They have now confirmed to the court that no such application will be made either now or in future.

After entering her pleas, Dennehy told the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney: "I've pleaded guilty, and that's that."

But her barrister, Nigel Lickley QC, said: "The course of the arraignment is not one we had anticipated."

The bodies of the victims were found in March and April. All three had been stabbed.

Dennehy also admitted "preventing the lawful and decent burial" of all three murder victims and two charges of attempting to murder two other men.

Gary Richards, 47, of Riseholme, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, also known as Gary Stretch, will stand trial after denying three charges of preventing the lawful burial of the bodies of Mr Slaboszewski, Mr Lee and Mr Chapman.

He also denied attempting to murder the two other men.

Leslie Layton, 36, of Bifield, Orton Goldhay, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing, while Robert Moore, 55, of Belvoir Way, Peterborough, denied assisting an offender.

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in