Murderer Shea Heeley "obsessed with killing", court told

MURDERER Shea Heeley — who was “obsessed with killing” — stabbed his friend Leonne Weeks to death “for the sake of it”, a judge said.

Shea Heeley (19) was sentenced this morning at Sheffield Crown Court for the murder of his neighbour 16-year-old Leonne Weeks on January 15 last year.

Heeley was told he must serve life behind bars with a minimum term of 24 and-a-half years.

The court heard he launched a “merciless” attack on Leonne after luring her to a dark alleyway.

Sentencing him, Judge Paul Watson said: “The two of you were friends and had known each other for well over a year. 

“On that evening you had arranged to meet her in Dinnington. 

“What followed was the brutally violent killing of a vulnerable young girl.

“You had taken with you to the scene the murder weapon a knife, and it is clear that it was always your intention to kill her when the two of you met. 

“She had done nothing to offend or upset you and she could in no way have anticipated the terrible and merciless attack to which you subjected her. 

“Putting it shortly, you killed her for the sake of it.

“You were obsessed with murder and killing and had told one witness, just days before you murdered Leonne, that you were a psychopath who wanted to kill people and had no remorse.”

Heeley stabbed Leonne 28 times during the alleyway attack.

She died from a collapsed lung and blood loss from her multiple injuries.

Heeley dumped Leonne’s body behind a discarded sofa and it was found the following morning by pupils from Dinnington College while they were on their morning break.

After news of the discovery spread, Heeley went with friends to the scene, where he told a bystander: “I hope I don't get blamed for what's up there because I had a p***-up there last night.”

Over the next day, the court heard, Heeley made more incriminating remarks to friend, seemed jovial and claimed he had last seen Leonne at 7pm on the Sunday night and she had declined his offer to walk her home.

Heeley was last seen on CCTV at 6.23pm, before Leonne's murder, buying sweets from a shop near to the scene. 

The same CCTV showed Leonne at 6.54pm buying a can of cola. 

The sweets and can of cola were both later found at the crime scene.

Prosecutor Mr Timothy Roberts said: “There was no evidence of sexual contact at all or of any sexual assault.”

He added: “Throughout the attack the knife was wielded with substantial force in a targeted fashion upon a defenceless victim.”

 

 

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