Robert Napper, a 42-year-old man with schizophrenia and a history of violent attacks on young women, today pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common 16 years ago. His admission on grounds of diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey brought closure to one of Britain's most notorious murder inquiries.
Mr Justice Griffiths Williams ordered Napper to be held indefinitely at Broadmoor high-security hospital, describing him as 'a very dangerous man'. Napper was already detained there for the murders of Samantha Bissett, 27, and her four-year-old daughter, which he admitted in 1995, also on diminished responsibility grounds. He had also admitted one rape and two attempted rapes of women he stalked in south-east London.
The Metropolitan Police missed at least seven opportunities to catch Napper, according to revelations today. Connections between the Nickell killing, a series of rapes in south-east London, and the Bissett murders were never made, allowing Napper to remain free. Commander Simon Foy, head of homicide command, apologised to the families of both victims for these missed opportunities.
Rachel Nickell's parents, Monica and Andrew, attended the sentencing. Her former partner, Andre Hanscombe, who now lives in Spain with their son, was also present. Andrew Nickell said the family hoped Napper would spend the rest of his life in secure custody and thanked police despite initial mistakes.
The police had wrongly pursued Colin Stagg for Nickell's murder, using an undercover policewoman in a honeytrap operation. Stagg spent 13 months in prison before the case was thrown out. Today, Assistant Commissioner John Yates issued an unreserved apology to Stagg, acknowledging the 'huge and most regrettable impact' on his life. The Crown Prosecution Service also apologised for bringing the prosecution.
