04/04/2006

Family murderer sentenced to life

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend and her six-year-old daughter.

Mark Nicholas, 30, had pleaded guilty to stabbing 33-year-old Nicole Batten to death and suffocating her daughter, Ukleigha Batten-Froggatt.

The bodies of mother and daughter were found in their flat in Camden, north London, in March last year. Police had forced their way into the flat after Ukleigha - who was on the child protection register - had not been seen at school for a week.

Nicholas, who is originally from Pembrokeshire, had been described in a psychiatric report as a potential danger to any woman with whom he had a relationship.

It is believed that Ms Batten may have been trying to end her relationship with Nicholas before the murder.

At sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge David Paget ordered that Nicholas should serve a minimum of 30 years before he could be considered for parole.

(KMcA)

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