A judge has declared that Britain's youngest female murderer was probably not acting alone when she stabbed a teenage girl to death in a frenzied attack over three decades ago. Sharon Carr, who was just 12 years old at the time, killed 18-year-old Katie Rackliff in June 1992, stabbing her more than 30 times.
The Chilling Murder and Unanswered Questions
The sentencing judge, Mr Justice Scott Baker, directly addressed Carr, stating: "The evidence suggests that you were not alone when you stabbed Katie Rackliff to death in June 1992. Who the others were, and any part they played, remains unclear." He emphasised that the murder had a sexual motive, apparent from the brutal mutilation of Katie's body and Carr's own diary entries, in which she chillingly wrote that killing "turns you on."
Katie Rackliff had been at the Ragamuffin nightclub in Camberley, Surrey, on June 7, 1992. Despite her young age, Sharon Carr was a regular at the venue. After leaving, it is believed Katie got into a car, possibly seeking a lift home, and that Carr was also in the vehicle. Katie's half-naked body was discovered five hours later in Farnborough, three miles from where she was last seen alive, having sustained 27 separate wounds in the violent assault.
Police Suspicions and the Hunt for Accomplices
Detectives had long suspected others were involved. The fact that Katie's body was moved a significant distance after death pointed to assistance. One detective stated after Carr's conviction: "There is no way that Sharon had a car — she must have had help." This was compounded by the prosecution's inability to explain how a 12-year-old girl could have dragged Katie, who weighed 8st 8lbs, across a pavement and around a corner alone.
During the investigation, police sought several individuals:
- A man with fashionable dark permed hair, seen with Katie last.
- The bloodstained driver of a grey Ford Escort XR3.
- An individual known only as 'Nick'.
When questioned, Carr gave three different accounts. In two versions, she claimed to be with two boys in a car during the attack, alleging they engaged in sexual activity with Katie before dumping her body. The named boys provided alibis and were eliminated from the inquiry, leaving the mystery of the other suspects unresolved.
Path to an Open Prison and Parole Board Decision
Now in her forties, Sharon Carr has been recommended for a move to an open prison, a significant step that could pave the way for her eventual release. The Parole Board confirmed it refused her immediate release but advised on the transfer to open conditions following an oral hearing.
A Parole Board spokesperson clarified: "This was a recommendation only and the Secretary of State for Justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions." The judge's enduring assessment of Carr as "an extremely dangerous young woman" echoes down the years, even as the system considers her potential rehabilitation.
For Katie Rackliff's family and the detectives who worked the case, the judge's recent statement confirms lingering doubts that others involved in the horrific crime have evaded justice.
