Ex-girlfriend of Babes in the Wood killer found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice

Sky News
Updated ·2 min read

The former girlfriend of Babes in the Wood killer Russell Bishop has been found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice in relation to his 1987 trial.

Jennifer Johnson was accused of having lied "prolifically" and "significantly undermined" the trial.

The 55-year-old's trial at Lewes Crown Court has heard over recent weeks that she had told "lies that were important" including about a crucial piece of evidence - a sweatshirt found near the scene.

Johnson insisted that she had acted under duress and "had no choice" but to lie during the trial more than three decades ago.

But she was today convicted on one count of perjury and one count of perverting the course of justice, after jurors took more than 12 hours to reach their majority verdicts of guilty on both charges.

Johnson closed her eyes as the verdicts were delivered, while the victims' families wiped away tears of relief.

Nine-year-olds Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows were found sexually assaulted and strangled in a woodland den in Brighton in October 1986.

Bishop was acquitted when he was first tried for the murders in 1987.

The not-guilty verdicts "caused devastation" for the girls' families but there was "another terrible consequence", the jury was told, as Bishop went on to attack another girl in 1990.

Bishop was eventually convicted in 2018 of the killings of Karen and Nicola, and jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years.

Mr Justice Fraser said Johnson was "infatuated" with Bishop but that the relationship had been "problematic".

"Earlier in her evidence ... she said she was being treated like a murderer," he told jurors during his summing up of the case.

"You must remember that the defendant does admit lying on oath in a crown court trial."

He said Johnson had been described as "tough and resourceful" and by her GP, Dr Calum Bartlett who "never had any concern about any active abuse".

Senior Crown prosecutor Libby Clark said Johnson's decision to lie at the 1987 trial was a "nightmare" for the prosecution.

Johnson's convictions for perjury and perverting the course of justice mark the end of a long road, not just for the CPS but also the families of Nicola and Karen, she added.

Ms Clark said: "It was unfinished business and naturally we're very pleased that it's resulted in a successful conclusion: a guilty verdict from the jury."

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