Footballer jailed for life
A former
Maidstone United footballer has been jailed for life for killing
his ex-girlfriend under new double jeopardy laws.
Mario Celaire beat 19-year-old
Cassandra McDermott and left her for dead in 2001 in Norbury, south
London.
He was initially found not guilty
of the crime at the Old Bailey.
Then, in 2007, he attacked another
ex-girlfriend, Kara Hoyte, with a hammer, leaving her paralysed and
unable to speak.
She was able to describe to police
what happened, and said Celaire had admitted the attack on Miss
McDermott to her.
New double jeopardy laws passed in
2003 allowed judges to quash the initial verdict, and put Celaire
on trial again for the killing.
He admitted both the manslaughter
of Miss McDermott and attempted murder of Miss Hoyte last
month.
Celaire, of Sydenham Road,
Sydenham, was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison.
Friday, July 03 2009