Hannah Bonser jailed for life for Casey Kearney park murder

Casey Kearney was found lying fatally injured in Elmfield Park, Doncaster in February. Credit: Family handout

A woman who stabbed a teenager to death as she walked through a park in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has been jailed for life.

Hannah Bonser, 26, has been told she will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison for the murder of Casey Kearney, who she randomly attacked in Elmfield Park, on Valentine's Day.

Casey, 13, was heading for a sleepover at a friend's house when she was stabbed once by Bonser with a 16cm kitchen knife she had bought earlier.

The teenager called 999 but only managed to say she had been stabbed. She later died in hospital.

Earlier, Bonser - who has a long history of mental health problems and cannabis abuse - showed no emotion when the jury foreman returned the verdict of guilty of murder after two hours of deliberation.

The judge, Mr Justice Cranston, told Sheffield Crown Court Casey's family had reacted with "enormous dignity" as they listened to the details of her death.

He added: "Casey did not deserve this. She had done nothing wrong."

ITV News reporter Rupert Evelyn reports.

In a statement, Casey's father Anthony Kearney said:

Anthony Kearney, father of Casey Kearney, outside Sheffield Crown Court, Credit: Dave Higgens/PA Wire
Mourners lay tributes following the death of Casey Kearney. Credit: Press Association

Detective Superintendent Terry Mann, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "This was a terrible, unprovoked and random attack on an innocent young girl, robbing her and her loving family of her future years".

He also paid tribute to Casey's family, saying: "They have conducted themselves with the utmost dignity and I offer them my deepest sympathy.

"We hope that they can now find some solace in the guilty verdict for Hannah Bonser and now begin to rebuild their lives."