The man found guilty of murdering six-year-old Rikki Neave has lost an appeal for conviction and sentence.
Rikki’s mother Ruth revealed today she received the news in a brief phone call with Cambridgeshire police liaison officers.
“I’m relieved,” she said. “I never expected though any different outcome.”
James Watson, 41, was convicted at the Old Bailey in April of the 1994 murder.
His conviction came after a breakthrough in DNA which showed that Watson, then 13, had been in physical contact with Rikki on the day of his
Mrs Justice McGowan said during sentencing that she was required by law to base the tariff on Watson’s age at the time of the offence.
She made an order that Watson must spend a minimum of 15 years in jail before release would be a consideration.
