Steve Wright, known as the Suffolk strangler, displayed a smirk in court while the brother of his sixth victim recounted the ongoing pain and torment inflicted on their family.
Aged 67, Wright admitted to the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall, who vanished over 25 years ago in a village near Felixstowe. Additionally, he confessed to the attempted kidnapping of Emily Doherty, then 22 years old, in a Suffolk port town the day prior. On Friday, Wright received a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for these offenses.
When Steven, the brother of the victim, addressed the court, he highlighted the devastating impact of losing his sister at the age of 15. He emphasized the perpetual suffering endured by their family due to Wright’s actions, underscoring the void left by Victoria’s untimely death and the missed opportunities she never had the chance to experience.
Victoria, a resident of Trimley St Mary in Suffolk, set out from home one evening in September 1999 to visit a nightclub with a friend in Felixstowe. Tragically, her lifeless body was discovered in a ditch five days later in Creeting St Peter, miles away from where she was last seen. Wright had abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered her before discarding her remains.
The distress caused by the horrific nature of Victoria’s death deeply affected her mother, Lorinda, who passed away before witnessing Wright’s accountability in court, as stated by the proceedings.
During the court sessions, Wright displayed an arrogant demeanor, entering nonchalantly and interacting casually with court personnel. Despite his appearance as an ordinary elderly individual, his actions reflected the malevolence he harbored. The court described him as chronically obese, bald, and wearing thick spectacles, painting a picture of the banality of evil.
As the sentencing was pronounced, Wright’s lack of remorse was evident as he sat motionless, facing the judge. The severity of his crimes was underscored by the judge’s remarks, emphasizing the unlikelihood of his release due to his dangerous nature and the certainty of spending his life behind bars.
