Neil McMillan guilty of murdering Andrea Waddell

04/06/2010

Neil McMillan has been sentenced to life imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court today after being found guilty of the murder of Andrea Waddell at her home in Brighton on 15th October 2009. He will have to serve a minimum term of 22 years.

Andrea Waddell's body was discovered lying on her bedroom floor after a fire at her flat had been reported. The post mortem later revealed that she had died of strangulation.

Senior District Crown Prosecutor Tim Thompson said:

"Andrea Waddell was murdered in her home. No one was there to see her killer and there was no scientific evidence to establish his identity. Mr McMillan tried to have an explanation for everything but our case was that the simple and obvious conclusion from all the facts was that he had killed Andrea.

"I made the decision that Mr McMillan should be charged with murder because I considered the evidence gathered by the police investigative team provided a picture a judge could properly leave to a jury and a jury could be sure about. I am pleased that all those in the prosecution team - Sussex Police, CPS Sussex and the barristers presenting the case - have worked together so effectively to bring this case to a successful conclusion. I hope that Andrea's family, who have impressed us all with their dignity, will take some comfort from the jury's verdict."