Babes in the Wood killer Russell Bishop dies, Ministry of Justice confirms

Babes in the wood killer, Russell Bishop died in hospital on Thursday

The Babes in the Wood killer Russell Bishop has died, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

The convicted paedophile, 55, was serving a life sentence for the murders of 9-year-olds Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows. He was 20 years old when he sexually assaulted and strangled the girls in a woodland den in Brighton's Wild Park in October 1986.

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

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

But it was another 32 years before Russell Bishop was convicted at his second trial in 2018.

Brighton schoolgirls Karen Hadaway (left) and Nicola Fellows Credit: PA

Last year, Bishop was given just months to live after it was revealed he was suffering with terminal brain cancer.

In a statement the Ministry of Justice confirmed Russell Bishop had died in hospital on Thursday night (20 January).

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Frankland prisoner Russell Bishop died in hospital on January 20. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”

Bishop's conviction brought to an end a long fight for justice for the two victims' families.

A Pinto sweatshirt discarded on Bishop's route home was linked to the defendant by DNA, while fibre, paint and ivy transfers placed it at the scene. Tests on a sample from Karen's left forearm also revealed a "one in a billion" DNA match to Bishop.

Bishop responded by trying to cast suspicion on Nicola's devastated father Barrie. 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 saw through the web of lies and convicted Bishop on the "overwhelming" evidence on the 31st anniversary of his acquittal.

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

In rare scenes, jurors embraced family members outside court after the hearing.

Sentencing Bishop, 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."

At the time Karen's mother Michelle Hadaway branded Bishop an "evil monster".

While Sue Eismann, Nicola's mother, said he was a "horrible, wicked man."

Barrie Fellows said the loss of Nicola destroyed his relationship with his wife, saying it "tore us apart". Their son Jonathan, who died just weeks before the second trial, was "riddled with guilt" that he was not able to look after her as a big brother should, he added.