In the matter of the murder of Ava White – sentencing remarks
| Jurisdiction | England & Wales |
| Judgment Date | 11 July 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Criminal |
| Court | Crown Court |
In the matter of the murder of Ava White
Liverpool Crown Court
11th July 2022
Sentencing Remarks of Mrs Justice Yip DBE
1. [Defendant], I need to explain to you and to others who are interested the sentence I am
going to pass. I have tried to make what I am going to say as easy to understand as
possible but there may be some things I need to say that will be difficult for you to
understand or to take in straight away. As soon as I have finished sentencing you, I will
let [the intermediary] and your legal team have a written copy of what I have said so
that they can explain anything you have missed.
2. I will also make the written remarks available to members of the press. An order
pursuant to section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 remains in
place and prevents the reporting of the Defendant’s name. I will use his name during
sentencing but will replace it with the word “[Defendant]” in the written copy. I am
avoiding saying anything else during sentencing that might lead to identification, so all
other things that I say may be openly reported.
3. Ava White was only 12 years’ old. She was full of character, always laughing and had
lots of friends. We have heard this morning that she was kind-hearted. Her family were
proud of the certificates awarded to her for her kindness. Ava was also fearless. Her
cousin said she thought she was invincible. At the age of 12, she had every right to
think that. When she went out that evening to have some fun in town, no one could
ever have imagined she would be killed, least of all Ava.
4. Ava’s death has left a huge hole in the lives of her family and friends. It is a hole that
will never be filled. Ava will never grow up and fulfil her dreams. She will be
remembered by many and their lives will be marked forever. The evidence we have
heard from her family today is deeply moving. While I know it is of little comfort, I
express my deepest sympathies to them.
To continue reading
Request your trial