Russell Bishop (sex offender)
Encyclopedia
Russell Bishop is a convicted child molester and abductor
. He is serving life imprisonment for the abduction, molestation and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl in the Whitehawk
area of Brighton. He committed the crime on 4 February 1990, and was sentenced on 13 December 1990. By 2007, Bishop was still in prison and one of the longest serving prisoners in Britain
not to be serving a sentence for murder, despite the trial judge recommending a minimum term of 14 years which could have seen him out of prison in 2004.
Bishop first became the centre of media attention in October 1986 when he was arrested on suspicion of the murders of two nine-year-old girls whose bodies were found in Wild Park
, Brighton
. The murders became known as the Babes in the Wood murders
after the children's tale
. He was cleared on both murder charges at his trial in December 1987, and the case remains open. Double jeopardy
seemed to eliminate any possibility that Bishop might one day face a new trial for the murders, but new legislation in 2005 meant that a criminal could face a new trial for a crime if substantial new evidence came to light. In September 2006, the High Court
decided that there was not enough for Bishop to face a second trial for the murders.
Child abduction
Child abduction or Child theft is the unauthorized removal of a minor from the custody of the child's natural or legally appointed guardians....
. He is serving life imprisonment for the abduction, molestation and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl in the Whitehawk
Whitehawk
Whitehawk is a suburb in the east of Brighton, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove.The area is a large, modern housing estate built in a downland dry valley historically known as Whitehawk Bottom. The estate was originally developed by the local authority between 1933 and 1937 and...
area of Brighton. He committed the crime on 4 February 1990, and was sentenced on 13 December 1990. By 2007, Bishop was still in prison and one of the longest serving prisoners in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
not to be serving a sentence for murder, despite the trial judge recommending a minimum term of 14 years which could have seen him out of prison in 2004.
Bishop first became the centre of media attention in October 1986 when he was arrested on suspicion of the murders of two nine-year-old girls whose bodies were found in Wild Park
Wild Park
Wild Park is a public park located in Brighton, East Sussex, England.It made the headlines in tragic circumstances on 10 October 1986 when the bodies of two missing nine-year-old girls were found there...
, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. The murders became known as the Babes in the Wood murders
Babes in the Wood murders
The Babes in the Wood murders is a name which has been used in the media to refer to several child murder cases in which the bodies of multiple victims were found concealed in woodland...
after the children's tale
Babes in the Wood
Babes in the Wood is a traditional children's tale, as well as a popular pantomime subject. It has also been the name of some other unrelated works. The expression has passed into common language, referring to inexperienced innocents entering unawares into any potentially dangerous or hostile...
. He was cleared on both murder charges at his trial in December 1987, and the case remains open. Double jeopardy
Double jeopardy
Double jeopardy is a procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same, or similar charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction...
seemed to eliminate any possibility that Bishop might one day face a new trial for the murders, but new legislation in 2005 meant that a criminal could face a new trial for a crime if substantial new evidence came to light. In September 2006, the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
decided that there was not enough for Bishop to face a second trial for the murders.