Babes in the Wood justice three decades later as 'monster' Russell Bishop gets life for double murder

Will Metcalfe
·Contributor
Russell Bishop, left, who is accused of the murders of Karen Hadaway, right, and Nicola Fellows, centre, in Wild Park, Brighton, in 1986.
Russell Bishop, left, who is accused of the murders of Karen Hadaway, right, and Nicola Fellows, centre, in Wild Park, Brighton, in 1986.

Babes in the Woods “monster” Russell Bishop has been jailed for life at the Old Bailey for the murders of two schoolgirls 32 years ago.

The 52-year-old convicted paedophile will serve at least 36 years after being found guilty of killing nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway.

The conviction brings an end to two families’ long fight for justice.

Bishop was just 20 years old when the friends, dubbed the Babes in the Woods, were sexually assaulted and strangled in Wild Park in Brighton in October 1986.

He was cleared of their murders on December 10 1987 after a botched police investigation but within three years went on to kidnap, molest and throttle a seven-year-old girl, leaving her for dead at Devils Dyke.

Court sketch of Russell Bishop, centre, who has been convicted of the murder of the so-called Babes in the Wood murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Wild Park, Brighton, October 1986. (Elizabeth Cook/PA).
Court sketch of Russell Bishop, centre, who has been convicted of the murder of the so-called Babes in the Wood murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Wild Park, Brighton, October 1986. (Elizabeth Cook/PA).

While serving life for attempted murder, Bishop was ordered to face a fresh trial in light of a DNA breakthrough.

Bishop responded by trying to cast suspicion on Nicola’s devastated father Barrie.

File photo of Russell Bishop, circa 1988, who has been convicted of the so-called Babes in the Woods murders in 1986 following a second trial. (PA).
File photo of Russell Bishop, circa 1988, who has been convicted of the so-called Babes in the Woods murders in 1986 following a second trial. (PA).

He tailored his evidence to counter the new forensic evidence, claiming to have touched the bodies to feel for a pulse after they were found by two 18-year-olds.

But jurors took just two-and-a-half hours to see through the web of lies and convict Bishop on the “overwhelming” evidence on the 31st anniversary of his acquittal.

Bishop refused to attend court for his sentencing at the Old Bailey.

murdered Brighton schoolgirls Karen Hadaway (left) and Nicola Fellows. Paedophile Russell Bishop has been found guilty of the 1986 ‘Babes in the Woods’ murders of the two schoolgirls, ending two families’ 32-year fight for justice.(PA)
murdered Brighton schoolgirls Karen Hadaway (left) and Nicola Fellows. Paedophile Russell Bishop has been found guilty of the 1986 ‘Babes in the Woods’ murders of the two schoolgirls, ending two families’ 32-year fight for justice.(PA)

Handing him a life sentence on Tuesday with a minimum term of 36 years, Mr Justice Sweeney said: “I have no doubt that you were a predatory paedophile.

“The terror that each girl must have suffered in their final moments is unimaginable.”

Members of the girls’ families wept and hugged each other.

Karen’s mother Michelle Hadaway said Bishop was an “evil monster”.

Michelle Hadaway, the mother of Karen Hadaway (left) and Sue Eismann the mother of Nicola Fellows, outside the Old Bailey in London after paedophile Russell Bishop was found guilty of the Babes in the Woods murders, ending the two families’ 32-year fight for justice. (PA)
Michelle Hadaway, the mother of Karen Hadaway (left) and Sue Eismann the mother of Nicola Fellows, outside the Old Bailey in London after paedophile Russell Bishop was found guilty of the Babes in the Woods murders, ending the two families’ 32-year fight for justice. (PA)

In a victim impact statement, she said: “Finally Justice has been done and Bishop has been seen as the evil monster he really is.”

Sue Eismann, Nicola’s mother, told how her world “turned upside down” after the death of her daughter.

The families of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows, outside the Old Bailey in London after paedophile Russell Bishop was found guilty of the Babes in the Woods murders, ending the two families’ 32-year fight for justice.(PA)
The families of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows, outside the Old Bailey in London after paedophile Russell Bishop was found guilty of the Babes in the Woods murders, ending the two families’ 32-year fight for justice.(PA)

On her feelings about Bishop, she said: “I have lived with the pain, the loss and sheer hate towards him for what he had done for the last 32 years.

“Russell Bishop is a horrible, wicked man. No child is safe if he is allowed to be free.”

Barrie Fellows said the loss of Nicola destroyed his relationship with his wife, saying it “tore us apart”.

Supporters of the families of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, the Babes in the Wood, place a banner showing after Russell Bishop was convicted of their murders. (PA)
Supporters of the families of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, the Babes in the Wood, place a banner showing after Russell Bishop was convicted of their murders. (PA)

On the false accusations he has faced over the murders, he said: “Thirty-two years is a long time to be suspected of murdering your daughter. When they arrested and charged Russell Bishop I thought that would be the end and we would get some closure. It did not pan out like that.

“Since the trial began I have been through every feeling imaginable from hope to sheer dread.

“Words cannot describe how I feel about Russell Bishop and the effect it has had on people’s lives.”

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