Man who strangled a grandad for 'revenge' jailed for 25 years
A man who strangled a Kent grandfather to death before dumping him in undergrowth has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years. Stephen Castle, 60, killed 54-year-old Wayne Woodgate following a chance encounter in Tunbridge Wells last October.Having argued with Mr Woodgate he attacked him and left his body to be found six days later just off a main road near Peasmarsh, East Sussex. The judge at Maidstone Crown Court said Castle had acted in "revenge", believing Woodgate was responsible for a previous police raid on his home that had led to him being jailed.
More follows.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Pastor ‘crucified by religious fanatic'
A pastor was crucified and had a crown of thorns placed on his head by a religious fanatic. The blood-soaked body of William 'Bill' Schonemann, 76, was found on his bed with his hands nailed to the wall in a house in New River, Arizona, on April 28. Adam Sheafe, 51, confessed to the killing in a jail cell interview in which he revealed he was attempting to recreate the crucifixion scene, as part of what he dubbed 'Operation First Commandment'. He claimed to have found the crown of thorns in the desert. Sheafe planned to execute 14 clergymen whom he believed were leading their 'flock astray'. With Hebrew lettering tattooed on his neck and wearing dark blue prison fatigues, Sheafe said he had a hit-list starting in Arizona, where he was born. He added: 'From there, it was Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Billings, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Beaumont, Texas; and El Paso, Texas.' 'Where it starts is where it will end, like the Garden of Eden,' he told True Crime Arizona. Sheafe arrived in Arizona and followed the pastor home on Easter Sunday. As Schonemann pulled into the garage, two women appeared, but they were spared. 'I'm not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors.' From there, he drove 117 miles to Sedona, where he planned to slaughter his next two victims. Sheafe was arrested two days after killing Schonemann following a manhunt linked to a string of burglaries in the area. He said he had no regrets. 'Not only do I have zero remorse, I plan on fulfilling what I started. If my father puts me in an authoritative position on this earth, I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground.' He said he wanted the death penalty – and as soon as possible. 'Well, I want to be executed quickly so we can get this show on the road and show exactly what I'm trying to do ... All you gotta do is worship Jesus and you go to Heaven; your sins are forgiven. That's not what God said.' Sheafe is being held in Coconino jail on charges unconnected with the killing, including burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle. 'This case is probably one of the most bizarre cases I have ever seen in my 40 years with the Maricopa Sheriff's Office,' said Sheriff Jerry Sheridan. Schonemann's family condemned the decision to broadcast an interview in a statement. 'What we have seen over the last week is this suspect enjoying the attention. His side of the story is half of the whole story, and we see the need to cover it, however challenging that may be for us,' the family said in a statement seen by Fox 10, although they criticised the granting of a platform to Sheafe. 'We are quite surprised by his ability to freely message with county-supplied devices. We are concerned about his increasing notoriety and possibly gaining a following.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Wander Franco sentence revealed as MLB star is found GUILTY on sexual abuse charges
Wander Franco has been found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic - but the ex-MLB star has avoided prison. The former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop was on trial for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. He was convicted of having an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21. Prosecutors requested that the 24-year-old baseball player be sentenced to five years in prison. But judges handed down a suspended sentence, with Franco facing five years probation. On Thursday, the judge in the case stated the court determined the minor was 'manipulated' because she gave differing statements about her alleged relationship with the baseball player. However, citing an interview with a psychologist, the judge stated that the minor described herself as Franco's girlfriend. Additionally, according to ESPN, the judge stated that the girl referred to Franco as 'Samuel' in interviews, which is a name reserved for those close to him. The prosecutors previously said in court there was sufficient evidence to prove Franco had a relationship with the minor for four months and that he transferred large sums of money to the minor´s mother to consent to the illegal relationship. The prosecutors had also requested the minor´s mother be sentenced to 10 years in prison, arguing she sexually trafficked her daughter. In a previous hearing, prosecutors described the evidence presented as 'convincing' and 'compelling.' Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent . The authorities allege that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos (or $17,000) to the mother of the minor on January 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse. Prosecutors say that the minor's mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During raids on the house of the minor's mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco. When the case first went to trial earlier this month, the Dominican authorities laid out their arguments against the former MLB player in the first hearing. 'Franco Aybar abducted the victim for sexual purposes for several days in the municipality of Villa Montellano, in the province of Puerto Plata,' prosecutors reiterated. '(He) then sent large sums of money to her mother (also under indictment) to prevent her from reporting him.' They claimed that the money was used to buy property. Prosecutors repeatedly alleged that Franco maintained a relationship of sexual exploitation and abuse for eight months with the minor. They argued that during that period, the minor's mother benefited from payments of money in exchange for maintaining her silence. However, when Franco's defense team first took the stand, his lawyers argued that the prosecution had no evidence to connect their client to the crimes he's accused of. They further claimed that the accusation is flawed. Franco is also facing separate gun-related charges in the Dominican Republic and could face up to five additional years behind bars if convicted.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Mum, 34, who vanished at church over a month ago is presumed dead as police make third arrest
A MUM who vanished at a church over a month ago is now presumed to be dead, say police. A third suspect, a 53-year old man, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder. 2 2 Reanne Coulson, 34, was last seen leaving a food bank near St Mary and Benedict Church in Coventry on May 21. Specialist search teams, including police dogs, have been searching Binley Woods and other areas of land in neighbouring Warwickshire since Wednesday. West Midlands Police say that "police intelligence" led them to the area. Her family had made an emotional plea for information earlier this week following her disappearance. They reported her missing when she didn't make contact on her birthday on June 17.
