The Murder of Candice Williams
Candice Williams was a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Birmingham. She was known as a happy child who loved music. On 24th July 1978, she went to the local fruit and vegetable shop near her home to buy an apple. She was seen in the shop but failed to return home.
Candice's body was found on the twelfth floor of the apartment block a few streets away from her home, she had been raped and strangled with her own shoelaces. Her half-eaten apple was found beside her.
Patrick Hassett was eventually linked to the crime by DNA in 1992. Disturbing details emerged when Hassett went to trial; when he was just 12 he had been found guilty of sexually assaulting two children, he had also served 10 years as an adult for kidnapping and abusing a 12-year-old girl. It was also revealed that he had bragged to a fellow inmate while in prison about Candice's murder. Hassett was jailed for life for Candice's murder.