19/01/98 - Heartbreak of Sophie
killer's letter campaign
The Birmingham Post
Howard Hughes, who was jailed for life for killing seven-year-old
Sophie Hook in Llandudno, has been bombarding local families
with letters protesting his innocence.
Sophie was raped and strangled in 1995 after being
snatched from a tent in her uncle's garden in the North
Wales seaside holiday town. Hughes (32), has started
a hate-mail campaign targeting the town's residents
from Full Sutton Prison near York.
In the letters he pleads his innocence and goes into
detail about the crime.
"I don't want your sympathy," writes Hughes.
"I just want your understanding."
The child killer, who was found guilty at Chester Crown
Court after confessing to his father, claims he is the
victim of a miscarriage of justice.
But locals are more worried about the fresh heartbreak
Hughes is piling on Sophie's parents Chris and Julie.
Hughes started sending his letters after he was given
leave to appeal against conviction.
An anti-paedophile organisation has called for more
stringent vetting of prison mail.
PARASOL - Parents Aiming to Right Abysmal Sex Offender
Laws - was set LIP in Llandudno after the case. Co-founder
Julie Roberts said: "Hughes shouldn't be allowed
to do this. It's going to cause Sophie's family even
more upset. "The authorities should be checking
his mail.
"There must be more stringent scrutiny." |
