Agony of family
after their long wait for justice

John Miller admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was jailed yesterday for life. He was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years before he could be considered for release.

Mr Justice Coulson said, however, he would have sentenced Miller to life in prison with a minimum of about 32 years if he had been convicted of murder instead of manslaughter and he questioned the length of time the case had taken to come to court.

The 38-year-old, who was held in psychiatric care following the killings, was described by the judge as a dangerous man, with a “jealous and controlling” nature.

Three psychiatrists had disagreed about whether he was a paranoid schizophrenic and should be treated in a mental hospital but the judge said he had decided it was not appropriate to grant a hospital order.

Prosecutor Michelle Colborne, QC, told the court that after Miller’s arrest in January last year: “The defendant said he knew that he had been violent and heard voices inside his head to do things. He said voices came from his computer about immigration and politics and he thought a nuclear war was coming.”

On the day of the killings, January 13, Miller had collected his daughters Abigail, eight, and Amelia, four, from school telling them to “hurry home because there is going to be a nuclear war”.

He told officers the family had eaten dinner and it had felt like their last meal together.

After watching Coronation Street together, at some point he attacked Ms Laycock, 31, in the kitchen, first with a knife, then an axe. Abigail, eight, was attacked from behind, putting up a desperate struggle before Miller delivered the fatal wound, cutting her throat and leaving her on the living room floor. One of her feet was jammed in the television unit, bearing witness to her fight for life.

All the while, his youngest daughter Amelia, four, was also in the house, to be found the following day by police, cowering upstairs with the family’s pet dog.

In a statement, Ms Laycock’s family said: “We have had to accept that Miller could only plead guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility.

“His welfare and duty of care appeared to be a priority, while we have had to endure the wait for the outcome of psychiatric reports. The strain, physically, mentally and emotionally has been unbearable.

“We will never come to terms with Miller’s reasons why he killed Sarah and Abi – the graphic details are truly horrendous.”

In a statement read to the court, Miss Laycock’s father, Christopher, said: “I’ve had no reprieve, no release for good behaviour. My daughter and grandaughter brutally and violently murdered, their basic human right removed – their right to live. Everything I’ve worked for is now gone. Everything I planned for has gone. The lifestyle I accepted as the norm has been shattered.”

The court also heard that police who attended the scene in Kirkby Avenue, Garforth, were deeply affected. One officer has resigned.

Speaking afterwards, Detective Superintendent Lisa Griffin said: “The public may ask why it has taken so long for this case to conclude. This is entirely due to the mental health of Miller who was detained in long-term psychiatric care after the incident until such time as he was deemed fit to face the criminal justice process. The family endured this agonising time with amazing strength, courage and dignity.

“He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charges on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Several forensic psychiatrists agree that he was acutely and seriously mentally ill at the time of the offences. He had no history of mental illness and no-one could have predicted or prevented this terrible tragedy.”

She said he was delusional and out of control, adding: “Sarah Laycock was a loyal partner, a loving mother and a hard-working deputy head teacher. She did nothing to provoke her violent death and everything to love and protect her children. Her loss can only be described as devastating to all who had the pleasure of knowing her.”