Marsh given two life sentences for double murder (From Daily Echo)
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Anthony Marsh sentenced to 26 years for murders of Stephanie Bellinger and baby Lili
11:14am Wednesday 1st December 2010 in News
By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter
Marsh given two life sentences for double murder
A HAMPSHIRE man will serve at least 26 years behind bars for the brutal murders of his fiancée and their baby daughter.
Anthony Marsh was today handed two life sentences after being convicted of the murders of Stephanie Bellinger and their ten-month-old daughter Lili Beau Marsh.
He savagely stabbed both to death at their family home in Myrtle Avenue, Totton, on February 25 this year.
At Winchester Crown Court this morning the judge told Marsh, 22, that although he accepted he had had a mental disorder at the time, the jury rejected his defence that the voices he claimed to have heard in his head were impossible to ignore.
Dressed in a dark grey pinstripe suit and white open-necked collarless shirt Marsh listened impassively as the judge told him his crimes were "horrendous". But he nodded and said thank you before being taken down from the dock.
The two life terms will run concurrently and the judge warned Marsh that he would not automatically be released once he served 26 years and he would only be freed when he is considered to no longer be a threat to the public.
In sentencing Mr Justice Tim Holroyde told Marsh his crimes had been made worse by the vulnerable nature of his victims.
He said: "Lili by reason of her age but also Stephanie for the simple reason that you waited until she was soundly asleep before attacking her."
The judge added that the scene of "brutality" he created has left a terrible lasting memory for Stephanie's mother and sister, who found the bodies.
He said: "For a mother and sister to find a loved one in such a position is truly appalling.
"As an intelligent man I can only conclude that you must have thought about that at some stage.
"A simple phone call would have done much to lessen the trauma. It was an act of selfishness to do nothing."
Echo Video reports
• Police search streets after murders
• Heartfelt plea from suspect's mother
• Murder investigation police speak
• Murder accused in court
Comments(28)
Dasal
says...
11:29am Wed 1 Dec 10
MAY THEY HAUNT HIM FOREVER !!!!!
Torchie1
says...
11:41am Wed 1 Dec 10
No_Fuss
says...
11:58am Wed 1 Dec 10
ohmywell
says...
1:02pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Stupideditor
says...
1:27pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Eye for an eye!(bloody human rights)
freemantlegirl2
says...
1:56pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Stupideditor wrote:".... the judge warned Marsh that he would not automatically be released once he served 26 years and he would only be freed when he is considered to no longer be a threat to the public." No automatic release or parole in this case. This is not about human rights. That is the Law that exists but Judges can recommend as in this case....
Brilliant, 2 life sentances but there is a posibility he could be out in 26 years. Soryy but to me life is life i.e. meaning till you die not when it is deemed that he may be safe around law abiding citizens.
Eye for an eye!(bloody human rights)
The people who have a life sentence are the mum, sister and son of Stephanie. What a terrible thing to have to live with :( I hope they can find some comfort in that this monster is behind bars, however, that will never take away the pain that they feel, my heart goes out to them :(
Snarfpup
says...
2:29pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Stupideditor wrote:I was thinking that too. If he behaves himself in prison he could be out by the time he is 48. Hardly fair to have that much of your life left to live after a horrendous crime like that.
Brilliant, 2 life sentances but there is a posibility he could be out in 26 years. Soryy but to me life is life i.e. meaning till you die not when it is deemed that he may be safe around law abiding citizens. Eye for an eye!(bloody human rights)
Karenrstevens
says...
4:07pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Family Bloke
says...
4:37pm Wed 1 Dec 10
freemantlegirl2 wrote:What the judge has done is given this vile creature an I.P.P (In the Public Protection) sentence, this is not a recommendation,
Stupideditor wrote:".... the judge warned Marsh that he would not automatically be released once he served 26 years and he would only be freed when he is considered to no longer be a threat to the public." No automatic release or parole in this case. This is not about human rights. That is the Law that exists but Judges can recommend as in this case....
Brilliant, 2 life sentances but there is a posibility he could be out in 26 years. Soryy but to me life is life i.e. meaning till you die not when it is deemed that he may be safe around law abiding citizens.
Eye for an eye!(bloody human rights)
The people who have a life sentence are the mum, sister and son of Stephanie. What a terrible thing to have to live with :( I hope they can find some comfort in that this monster is behind bars, however, that will never take away the pain that they feel, my heart goes out to them :(
You are correct FMG2 he will be held for 26 years straight off the bat, even before they think of any form of release, whether automatic or parole,(which won't happen) basically it means doctors will decide if he can walk the streets again, not a parole board, which I don't think they will, it would take a brave quack to let this thing out of jail, even tough I think it will be held in a soft therapeutic prison.
I hope Stephanie's family can find solace and comfort knowing this thing is behind bars for a very long time, probably and hopefully forever, my thoughts and heart goes to them all.
sotonbusdriver
says...
4:39pm Wed 1 Dec 10
It would be good reason to re-instate the DEATH PENALTY in this country again.. Saving money time and space.
Roy S
says...
4:55pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Then if he doesnt work, reduce his food...AND dont talk to me about his human rights, what about the two murdered peoples rights?
Cyber-Fug
says...
5:01pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Poppy22
says...
5:15pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Stupideditor wrote:And when did "life" mean only 13 years if it's supposed to be "two concurrent life sentences"? When are the government going to start listening to public opinion on these ridiculously short sentences. And, yes, the death penalty should be brought back for such crimes, though I still think that in this case Broadmoor would seem to be a better place for any sentence, not prison, as how are prisons expected to cope with mentally ill people?
Brilliant, 2 life sentances but there is a posibility he could be out in 26 years. Soryy but to me life is life i.e. meaning till you die not when it is deemed that he may be safe around law abiding citizens. Eye for an eye!(bloody human rights)
freefinker
says...
5:19pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Poppy22 wrote:I suggest you learn the difference between concurrent and consecutive.
Stupideditor wrote:And when did "life" mean only 13 years if it's supposed to be "two concurrent life sentences"? When are the government going to start listening to public opinion on these ridiculously short sentences. And, yes, the death penalty should be brought back for such crimes, though I still think that in this case Broadmoor would seem to be a better place for any sentence, not prison, as how are prisons expected to cope with mentally ill people?
Brilliant, 2 life sentances but there is a posibility he could be out in 26 years. Soryy but to me life is life i.e. meaning till you die not when it is deemed that he may be safe around law abiding citizens. Eye for an eye!(bloody human rights)
Poppy22
says...
5:19pm Wed 1 Dec 10
freefinker
says...
5:22pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Poppy22 wrote:.. and that is a consecutive post.
And when did "life" mean only 13 years if it's supposed to be "two concurrent life sentences"? When are the government going to start listening to public opinion on these ridiculously short sentences. And, yes, the death penalty should be brought back for such crimes, though I still think that in this case Broadmoor would seem to be a better place for any sentence, not prison, as how are prisons expected to cope with mentally ill people?
edsoton
says...
5:32pm Wed 1 Dec 10
a and e
says...
5:44pm Wed 1 Dec 10
sotonbusdriver
says...
6:18pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Roy S wrote:Maybe the issue of the death penalty should be a part of one of the future party policies for an election.
sotonbusdriver, I completely agree with you, but sadly since you and I are in a minority, why not bring in 'Hard Labour' for these crimes so that the criiminal actually pays for his bed and board by actual hard physical work. This could be the traditional breaking of rocks, or moving a rockpile form A to B, then B to A... Then if he doesnt work, reduce his food...AND dont talk to me about his human rights, what about the two murdered peoples rights?
That might give the public a chance to express their opinion..
Brock_and_Roll
says...
6:54pm Wed 1 Dec 10
The mental illness crime issue is relevant at the moment with the Peter Sutcliffe case/appeal. At the time the jury did not believe he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia - so he would have gone to the gallows if we had the death penalty. Subsequently it was proved that he was a sufferer and ironically though he is quite clearly mentally ill now (I have experience at Broadmoor hospital), his lawyers are using the original "sane" judgement in order to argue that he should serve a fixed term like any other murderer, rather than be detained indefitiely in hospital. Now that is crazy!
markthemod
says...
6:59pm Wed 1 Dec 10
soton0406
says...
7:09pm Wed 1 Dec 10
Thinking of Stephanie's family at this time, they too are victims. xx
soton0406
says...
7:12pm Wed 1 Dec 10
forest hump
says...
7:40pm Wed 1 Dec 10
freefinker wrote:Condescending, sanctimonious and self-righteous spring to mind. I would guess you might be one of the lily-livered liberals who would say this person needs help and not execution?
Poppy22 wrote: And when did "life" mean only 13 years if it's supposed to be "two concurrent life sentences"? When are the government going to start listening to public opinion on these ridiculously short sentences. And, yes, the death penalty should be brought back for such crimes, though I still think that in this case Broadmoor would seem to be a better place for any sentence, not prison, as how are prisons expected to cope with mentally ill people?.. and that is a consecutive post.
Cyber-Fug
says...
8:10pm Wed 1 Dec 10
I stand by my earlier comments !
Hannibal Lecture
says...
1:35pm Thu 2 Dec 10
wizzle wrote:What bit of "mental disorder at the time" do you not understand? It's no different to having a broken arm "at the time", but not later.
How can you have a mental disorder at the time? How convenient! I suppose hes ok now then! Well Justice has finally been done at last, may he rot in jail!
My thoughts and prayers go to the family of Stephanie and Lili, may they rest in peace.
I'm not buying his "the voices told me to do it!" plea, either, but it is perfectly possible for a mental disorder to be temporary.
Noway12
says...
5:19pm Fri 3 Dec 10
markthemod wrote:its because he is nasty and vile and his family do not need to read the comments. I have sympathy for them but far more for Stephs family, especially finding their bodies in that way!!!! They have lost a daughter, sister and grandaughter. At least their son/brother is still alive!!!!
I can't belive how all of you can say such nasty vile stuff about him you really should think before you type. What if anthonys mother and family saw these comments how it's gona make her feel she has suffered just as much as the other family and lost her son to the prison system too. And yes I do know his mother and family. So please give consideration to them.
wizzle says...
11:22am Wed 1 Dec 10
My thoughts and prayers go to the family of Stephanie and Lili, may they rest in peace.