Ex-chef jailed for schoolgirl murder

A former Army chef was jailed for life yesterday for the murder and rape of Marion Crofts, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, more than 20 years ago.

Tony Jasinky was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court after a jury of seven men and five women took three hours to reach their verdicts, which were greeted with cheers and applause from the public gallery.

Jasinskyj, 45, of Kegworth Avenue, Leicester, denied the charges. But the prosecution proved that DNA obtained from Marion's clothing and body was a match to that taken from him when he was arrested on an unconnected matter last year.

He was jailed for life for murder and 10 years for the rape charge, to run concurrently.

Sentencing Jasinskyj, Judge Michael Brodrick said: "Tony Jasinskyj, you have been convicted of the cruel and callous murder of Marion Crofts, a 14-year-old girl cycling on her way to band practice."

Jasinskyj showed no emotion and stared at the judge as he was sentenced to life.

Marion was brutally raped and killed as she was cycling from her home in Fleet, Hampshire, to Wavell School, Farn-borough, on the morning of 6 June, 1981.

Jasinskyj worked in barracks less than a mile and a half from the murder scene.