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- luckylittlelady
- Rep: 20
Re: DNA match in 1975 murder case
A man accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl more than 30 years ago had an "exact match" with DNA recovered from the dead child, a court has heard.
Ronald Castree of Brandon Crescent, Oldham, Greater Manchester, is charged with killing Lesley Molseed in 1975.
The girl's body was found on moors in West Yorkshire after a "frenzied" attack, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard on Tuesday.
The 53-year-old denies murdering the girl, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
'Lonely scene'
Julian Goose QC, opening the case for the prosecution, said Mr Castree abducted Lesley from near her home as she went to run an errand for her mother.
He drove her to a "lonely scene" on moorland between Oldham and Ripponden, stabbed her repeatedly and left her for dead, he told the court.
Lesley Molseed
This was a frenzied attack upon a small, weak, 11-year-old child
Julian Goose QC, prosecuting
He said: "The identity of the murderer was contained within the sperm from the semen within Lesley's knickers."
Mr Goose told the court when the child's body was found in October 1975, it was not then scientifically possible to extract and compare a DNA profile.
He said: "The prosecution's case is that the semen was the defendant's and that his motive for murdering Lesley Molseed was sexual."
The jury heard how Lesley was enjoying a "typical family Sunday" on 5 October when she went on an errand for her mother and was never seen again.
Though she was small for her age, suffered heart problems and had some learning difficulties, she was a "cheerful, ordinary and happy child", Mr Goose said.
Her body was found three days after she was abducted, lying face down on moorland.
'Left to die'
A pathologist found Lesley had been stabbed 12 times, some of which pierced her heart and left lung.
Mr Goose said: "This was a frenzied attack upon a small, weak, 11-year-old child."
The prosecutor said there was evidence the youngster had held on to her purse until "the last moments when she was stabbed and left to die".
Evidence gathered from her body was examined and placed in storage, the court was told.
Mr Castree told detectives his DNA was on Lesley's clothing either because it had been deliberately put there to "set him up" or as a result of cross-contamination.
He said in 1979 he had "crossed swords" with two police officers who threatened to set him up for the murder.
But Mr Goose said: "How could the defendant's semen have been taken from him without his knowledge and how could it have been placed into adhesive tapes retained by the forensic science service, without anyone else finding out?"
The jury heard how Stefan Kiszko, who was wrongly convicted of the murder and spent 16 years in prison, was infertile and could not produce sperm.
The trial continues.
- luckylittlelady
- Rep: 20
Re: DNA match in 1975 murder case
He has now been found guilty.
A 54-year-old man has been jailed for life for the murder of schoolgirl Lesley Molseed more than 30 years ago.
Ronald Castree, of Brandon Crescent, Oldham, Greater Manchester, was told by the judge at Bradford Crown Court he must serve a minimum of 30 years.
Lesley, 11, vanished from her Rochdale home in October 1975. Her body was later found on moors in West Yorkshire.
Stefan Kiszko was wrongly convicted for the murder and spent 16 years in jail. He died soon after his release.
You left [Lesley] for dead, drove back to Rochdale and carried on with the rest of your life as if nothing had happened
Judge Mr Justice Openshaw
The guilty verdict came after 11 hours and 38 minutes of deliberations by the jury and was a majority decision.
After the sentencing Lesley's mother, April Garrett, read a statement outside the court.
She said: "We are relieved that after so long our quest for justice for Lesley is now over.
"It has been a long and harrowing ordeal, and our gratitude to the friends, family and strangers throughout the world who have given us their support is immense.
"We would particularly like to thank the West Yorkshire police force whose dedication and professionalism played a key role in the outcome today. They have been more than police, they have been friends."
Lesley Molseed
Lesley had been stabbed 12 times and sexually assaulted
The jury heard Castree, a comic book dealer, had abducted Lesley as she went on an errand for her mother on Sunday 5 October, 1975.
Her body was found three days later on moors on the West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester border.
She had been stabbed 12 times during a "frenzied attack", the jury was told.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Openshaw said: "This was a truly dreadful crime. Lesley Molseed was only 11.
"She was vulnerable, not just because of her age but because of her learning difficulties.
"You approached her, you would have no difficulty in luring her away for she was trusting."
He added: "You repeatedly stabbed her. You left her for dead, drove back to Rochdale and carried on with the rest of your life as if nothing had happened.
"It was a pretence you kept up for 32 years. Your past has now caught up with you."
DNA match
As Castree was taken from the court he tried to address the judge, crying: "My Lord," but was cut off by the judge with the words: "No. You have had your say."
Castree replied: "I did not do it," as he was led from the dock.
A DNA sample from Castree, taken in 2005 when he was arrested but not charged in connection with another sex attack, was a direct match with a semen sample found on Lesley's underwear.
Castree told the jury he had no idea how his DNA ended up at the scene of the murder.
His defence team had tried to argue it was "overwhelmingly probable" a convicted paedophile called Raymond Hewlett was Lesley's murderer.
- DoubleTalkingJive
- Rep: 74
Re: DNA match in 1975 murder case
DNA is DNA rot in hell you fucker 
I love how they are caught with scientific evidence that proves them without a doubt and they still are like, I didn't do it.
I hope he rots in jail to his last breath. Unreal these fuckers do this to children, poor girl. 
- luckylittlelady
- Rep: 20
Re: DNA match in 1975 murder case
The jury heard how Stefan Kiszko, who was wrongly convicted of the murder and spent 16 years in prison, was infertile and could not produce sperm.
They showed old footage of this guy being interviewed after his release on TV last night. It was really sad, he obv had some kind of learning difficulties but he was really hopeful that he could go on to lead a normal life and was speaking about how he hoped to get married. He died the year after he was released though.
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