Becky Watts' Stepbrother Guilty Of Murder

Nathan Matthews, the stepbrother of teenager Becky Watts, has been found guilty of murdering her during a sexually motivated kidnap.

He had suffocated the 16-year-old schoolgirl when she disappeared from her Bristol home on 19 February and dismembered her body with a circular saw.

Her remains were discovered in a shed two weeks later, less than two miles away from where she lived.

There were shouts of "yes" from the public gallery at Bristol Crown Court as the verdict was delivered.

It took a jury of 10 women and one man less than three-and-a-half hours of deliberation to reach their verdicts on six charges against Matthews, his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, and two men accused of helping move and hide Becky's body parts.

Hoare was cleared of Becky's murder, but found guilty of manslaughter.

Both were totally emotionless as the verdicts were read out, and the judge said sentencing would be passed at 10am on Friday morning.

Matthews faces a mandatory life sentence, but could die behind bars as the sexually motivated murder of a child can carry a whole life term.

:: 'Nobody Knew What Nathan Matthews Was Capable Of'

Outside court, Avon and Somerset Police said the evidence against Matthews and Hoare "suggested a sinister motive relating to their deep-seated hatred for Becky and their twisted sexual desires".

Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour said: "It is virtually impossible to comprehend this level of depravity.

"Although he admitted manslaughter, Matthews has never taken full responsibility for his actions and he has forced Becky's family and friends to endure the additional trauma of a lengthy and distressing trial."

Meanwhile, Becky's mother, grandmother and brother said: "We loved Becky and know her better than most. We can tell you that she was a beautiful, happy, funny, feisty, caring, loyal and witty girl.

"She was like a tornado, hurricane and sunbeam all at once. She came into your life and made you feel alive."

They described the trial as "deeply distressing" - and thanked the jury "for taking the time to carefully listen to the often very harrowing evidence".

Becky's family - including her father Darren, and Nathan's mother Anjie - also described her killers as "animals" who deserved the death penalty.

:: Reaction To The Becky Watts Verdict

Matthews had told police he strangled Becky after the kidnap - which was to "teach her a lesson" - went wrong.

During the trial, he told the jury he had gone to the teenager's house armed with a "kidnap kit" including tape, a mask, a stun gun and handcuffs. However, a struggle ensued when he went into Becky's bedroom, which led to her death.

The 28-year-old then drove Becky's body to the home he shared with Hoare, where he dismembered her in the bath before packing the remains in bags and boxes and moving them to the shed. Matthews had insisted Hoare was not involved.

Detectives said Hoare had denied any involvement in the crimes and had a "cold-blooded and calculated nature".

She claimed she suffered terrifying violence at the hands of Matthews, and insisted messages that police had found between the pair discussing kidnap were simply to placate him.

In one, she wrote: "Just went into Costcutter and saw a pretty petite girl. Almost knocked her out to bring home lol xoxo".

A reply 20 seconds later from Matthews read: "Don't you 'almost' me ... Now DOIT b****!!xxxxx".

One of the teenagers who was the subject of those text messages was notified by police before the trial began.

Becky's Cousin: Killer Matthews 'Beyond Human'

During the proceedings, the jury heard how Matthews was obsessed with pornography - watching it daily.

When police searched his laptop, they found a 17-minute video which depicted a virgin being raped in her home.

Prosecutor William Mousley QC had said Matthew's actions were fuelled by dislike for Becky and a desire to make her a "sexual plaything".

He alleged the treatment of the teenager's body after her death showed Matthews had "a complete absence of sorrow for what he did to her".

Matthews, from Warmley in South Gloucestershire, had previously admitted killing Becky, perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse and possessing a prohibited weapon.

He had described himself as an "emotionally unstable, psychologically disturbed metrosexual Neanderthal".

Two others - James Ireland, 23, and Donovan Demetrius, 30 - were found not guilty of assisting an offender.

The residents of the Barton Court property where Becky's body was found, Karl Demetrius and his partner Jaydene Parsons, have previously admitted assisting an offender.