James Lewis Watson

The offence

What the court heard

He was found guilty of murder in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on 28 November 1994. SENTENCING REMARKS 1. The body of Rikki Neave was found by a police officer in a wooded area near his home in Peterborough on 29 November 1994. He had been throttled by the collar of his jacket; it had been twisted from the back and used as a ligature to strangle him. 2. He died quickly and the medical evidence suggests that he was not frightened and did not struggle. The scientific evidence shows that he had walked into the woods wearing his shoes. After his death he was stripped naked and his body was laid out on the ground, spreadeagled with his arms and legs outstretched. 3. His clothing was later found in a dustbin outside a nearby house. A button was missing from his school uniform shirt. A matching button was found on a leaf near the body, showing clearly that he had been undressed at that location. 4. Rikki was only 6 years old, he had been born on 4 March 1988. He had three sisters, two of whom were living at home with him and his mother at the time of his death. All the children were known to social services and Rikki was on the "at risk register". Rikki was well known on the estate, he would wander around day and night, avoiding school except for lunch time. School was where he invariably went at lunch time so that he could eat a proper meal. 5. Rikki is variously described as happy, bright and cheeky; he was capable of demonstrating great affection towards his sisters. His childhood had been a sad one, he was a neglected child generally and on specific occasions was the victim of violent and cruel behaviour. 6. However he never had the chance to grow up to be happy and to lead a normal and fulfilling life. That opportunity was denied to him by his murderer. Equally, the chance for his sisters to grow up knowing him and having a bond with him has been taken away. I have heard evidence from the family today, the loss they have suffered will stay with them forever and no sentence that I can pass will ever ease their suffering. 7. James Watson also had a difficult and troubled childhood. He was born on 1 April 1981 and was 13 years old at the time of the murder. By that time he was living in care in a children's' home. Until shortly before the 28 November he had been living with a foster carer, Molly Donald, at an address close to the estate where the Neave family lived. His father still lived nearby at the time. 8. I cannot be sure that the two boys ever met…

Aggravating and mitigating factors

Age / Youth and immaturity of the offender

Around this case

• Central Criminal Court Crown Court
• Prosecuted by CPS East of England
• Investigated by Cambridgeshire Constabulary