THOMAS PARK SENTENCED TO LIFE IN LIVERPOOL FOR MURDER OF GIRL AND MOTHER

In a harrowing case that shocked the community of Liverpool, Thomas Park was handed down a sentence of two life terms yesterday after being convicted of the brutal murders of a young girl and her mother. The tragic events unfolded in the Kensington area, specifically on Ling Street, where Park’s heinous acts left a lasting scar on the neighborhood.

Park, aged 25, was found guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court after a series of disturbing revelations and conflicting accounts during police interrogations. The case centered around the murder of Sharon Lester, a 22-year-old mother, and her two-year-old daughter, Jade. The young girl’s body was discovered a week after her death, hidden in a cupboard at her mother’s residence. A neighbor and her mother stumbled upon Jade’s lifeless form, which bore the marks of 100 stab wounds, with 80 of those inflicted on her neck. The scene was gruesome and indicated a violent attack that also involved sexual abuse, as confirmed by a post-mortem examination.

Following the discovery, authorities launched an extensive search for Jade, who was missing from her home. Park, who had been known to frequent the area, initially denied any knowledge of the murders or Jade’s whereabouts when questioned on December 13. However, within 24 hours, he confessed to hiding Jade’s body and admitted to killing Sharon Lester. His changing stories during police interviews included claims that he had panicked after finding Jade drowned in the bath and had buried her in a makeshift grave, which he later led police to.

In a further twist, Park later altered his account, asserting that he had found Jade collapsed on the floor of her mother’s bedroom and was attempting to revive her by shaking her. Throughout the trial, Park maintained that he did not intentionally murder Sharon Lester, instead claiming that her death was manslaughter provoked by her attack on him with scissors over an alleged affair with a neighbor. Prosecutor Tim Holroyd QC, challenged this version of events, asserting that Park had sexually assaulted Jade and murdered her to silence her, implying that Sharon Lester had discovered his misconduct.

The prosecution argued that Park’s actions were premeditated and driven by a desire to conceal his abuse and avoid detection. The jury found him guilty of both the sexual abuse and murder of Jade, who was found naked except for a pyjama top, and of the murder of Sharon Lester. The judge, Mr. Justice Owen, sentenced Park to life imprisonment for each murder, with the sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, he received a three-year sentence for the indecent assault on Jade, which was also to be served alongside the other sentences. Park was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

During the sentencing, Stephen Riordan QC, representing Park, acknowledged that there was little mitigation to offer, describing him as an unemployed joiner from Kensington, Liverpool. The case has left a lasting impact on the local community, highlighting the tragic consequences of abuse and violence within a family setting.