Angela Wrightson murder: Teen killers subject of serious case reviews

The two teenage killers of Angela Wrightson are the subject of serious case reviews, a council chief has confirmed.
Hartlepool Council chief executive Gill AlexanderHartlepool Council chief executive Gill Alexander
Hartlepool Council chief executive Gill Alexander

The 39-year-old was found dead in her blood-spattered living room in Hartlepool, County Durham, with more than 100 injuries.

A seven-week trial at Leeds Crown Court heard that the girls, who were aged 13 and 14 at the time of the attack in December 2014, used a variety of weapons, including a coffee table and a computer printer, to carry out the "sustained and brutal" attack over a prolonged period.

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Speaking after the jury returned its verdicts, Gill Alexander, Hartlepool Council’s Chief Executive, said: "Firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Angela Wrightson’s family and friends at this difficult time following her tragic death.

"Angela’s death has touched the hearts of many people in the Hartlepool community who knew her, and as such it has also been an emotionally challenging time for Council staff and other agencies who have been involved in this case.

"An independent Safeguarding Adult Review is being undertaken regarding Angela Wrightson and independent Serious Case Reviews are being carried out in respect of the two children.

"The Council fully supports these multi-agency reviews which will involve all of the relevant organisations. The two children were receiving services from the Council and other agencies, but until the ongoing Serious Case Reviews are concluded, it would not be appropriate to comment on the circumstances of the children at this time.

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"Incidents like this are extremely rare, but we need to do everything possible to try to better understand what motivated the two children to behave as they did.

"Given the exceptional circumstances of this case, the Serious Case Reviews and the Safeguarding Adult Review will be seeking the help of national experts and national research in this field, to ensure that everyone can learn from this case to help prevent similar tragedies in the future."