The Moulton father of murdered schoolgirl Tia Sharp broke down in tears today as the man accused of killing his daughter dramatically changed his plea on the fifth day of an Old Bailey trial.
Stuart Hazell, aged 37, dramatically changed his plea this morning and admitted murdering the 12-year-old in August last year.
Window cleaner Hazell hung his head in the dock as he changed his plea and jurors were asked to formally find him guilty.
Lord Carlile, representing Hazell, said his client wanted to make it known that “Tia’s family have suffered enough and he did not want to put them through any further stages of this trial or this process”.
Tragic Tia’s father, Steve Carter, and her grandfather both live in Moulton.
Mr Carter, broke down in tears as Hazell changed his plea.
Hazell, wearing a washed-out grey T-shirt, leaned forward as Lord Carlile asked for the charge to be put again.
He clutched his hands in front of him and there was a slight pause when he was asked to plead.
And then he said “guilty” as gasps from the public gallery rang around the oak-lined courtroom.
The development came after four days of graphic evidence during which Tia’s mother, Natalie Sharp, frequently had to leave the courtroom, visibly distressed.
The prosecution case included a grotesque photograph of a girl alleged to be Tia after she died.
In the shot, a naked girl, whose face cannot be seen, is posed on all fours on a bed.
Mr Justice Nicol is due to sentence Hazell later today.