Court

Life Sentence for Killer who Lured Schoolboy with Fake Job, Tied Him Up, Sexually Abused Him and Slashed His Throat
Thur 15th Jan 2015, Yellow Advertiser

A MAN from Grays has been jailed for life over the 'sadistic and sexually motivated' murder of a 14-year-old boy.

Lewis Mark Daynes, 19, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to killing Breck Bednar, who he met in an online gaming forum.

Mrs Justice Cox gave Daynes a minimum term of 25 years.

Breck's mother burst into tears as the sentence was handed down.

Daynes murdered the boy at his flat in Rosebery Road, Grays, on February 17, 2014.

He lured Breck - from Caterham, Surrey - there by promising him a job at a fictitious computer company, telling him he was in line for an £85million pay-out.

Daynes initially denied murder but pleaded guilty on November 25, the first day of his trial.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC said evidence showed Daynes bound Breck with duct tape, cut his clothes off and sexually assaulted him.

He then executed the defenceless teen by standing behind him and slashing his throat.

Pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki said on Monday that the fatal wound was caused by three or four separate knife movements.

Daynes then sent pictures of Breck's body to two mutual contacts, including a 15-year-old boy.

After sending them, Daynes showered, changed clothes and destroyed computer equipment by placing it in a sink full of water.

Almost an hour later he called police and claimed he had killed Breck in self-defence.

The court heard Daynes ordered duct tape, condoms and lubricant weeks before the murder.

Forensic scientist Dr Neil Simpson testified on Monday that evidence showed Breck spilled a large amount of blood 'within minutes' of sexual activity taking place.

The condoms and lubricant were found in a closed drawer in the bedroom where Breck was murdered, but had 'airborn blood' on them, meaning they were not in the drawer during the murder.

Mr Whittam claimed this evidence proved a 'sadistic or sexual motivation', as well as premeditation.

Defence barrister Simon Mayo QC claimed the purchases only proved premeditation of lesser crimes.

He argued Daynes's failure to plot an escape or a way to dispose of Breck's body proved the murder was not premeditated.

Mrs Justice Cox agreed, telling Daynes: "The evidence does not support a finding that the murder itself was premeditated and pre-planned. It does however support the prosecution submission that you groomed this young boy over a lengthy period of time before you lured him to your home and then engaged in sexual activity and murdered him."

Telling Daynes he would spend at least 25 years behind bars, she said: "I emphasise that [this] is the minimum amount of time that you will spend in prison, from the date of sentence, before the Parole Board can even consider whether you might be released.

"If it remains necessary for the protection of the public, you will continue to be detained in custody after that date. You will in any event remain on licence for the rest of your life."

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