Man found guilty of murdering Havant teenager

  • Meridian

A man has been found guilty of murdering Havant teenager Louise Smith.

30-year-old Shane Mays walked with the 16-year-old to the secluded spot in Havant Thicket on VE Day on 8th May, where he repeatedly punched her in the face, causing her fatal injuries.

He then burned her body, which was found 13 days later following a major police search.

James Newton-Price QC, prosecuting, told the trial at Winchester Crown Court, "A determined attempt had been made to destroy her body, which was so badly burned and damaged by fire as to be unrecognisable."

"Her body had been subjected to extreme violence and violation, including repeated and heavy blows to her head."

Mays showed no emotion as the unanimous verdict was announced, and cries of "Yes" could be heard from the public gallery. The "vulnerable" student had moved in with the defendant and his wife, Chazlynn Jayne (CJ) Mays - the victim's aunt - at the end of April, after she had "quarrelled" with her mother.

But arguments broke out between the three and Louise complained to her boyfriend, Bradley Kercher, that Mays would "flirt" with her and pin her down, and the jury was shown a Snapchat video of him tickling her feet.

Louise Smith had been living with her aunt CJ Mays and her husband Shane Mays Credit: Hampshire Police

Mr Newton-Price said: "Louise was just 16, she was anxious, needy, fragile and vulnerable, vulnerable to the attentions of a predatory man who was apparently flirting with her and living in the same small flat."

He suggested that Mays had persuaded Louise to walk with him to the woodland by offering her cannabis, with the aim of sexually assaulting her. Mays told the court that he punched Louise "many" times to the face and had heard her bones "crack", after losing his temper.

Shane Mays has been found guilty of the murder of Havant teenager Louise Smith Credit: Hampshire Police

The court heard that a clinical review of the defendant found he had an "extremely low" IQ of 63, putting him in the bottom one percentile of people.

Following her death, Louise, who was training to be a veterinary nurse, was described by her family as a "smiley, generous person".

The judge, Mrs Justice May, adjourned the case for sentencing on Wednesday.