UK Edition
Farmer's daughter killed by man who recreated porn DVD strangling scene
A farmer's teenage daughter was choked to death by a man who recreated a strangling scene he had watched on a pornographic DVD.
Hannah Pearson, 16, was plied with alcohol by James Morton - a former McDonald's worker and friend of her boyfriend - before "guiding" her to his bedroom, where he throttled her, a court heard as the killer was jailed for 12 years.
After Miss Pearson stopped breathing, Morton dialled 999 and the schoolgirl was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Morton admitted putting Miss Pearson in bed and climbing in alongside her before choking her. He said he had previously tried strangling another partner and was "curious" after "seeing it on a film".
He was cleared of murder, but found guilty of manslaughter following a two-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
The 24-year-old had said the part-time waitress's death took place accidentally as part of a sex game gone wrong, claiming she had kissed him first.
However, a judge told Morton that Miss Pearson, who had been head captain of her school, was "intoxicated... and no position to object, trapped underneath you whilst you strangled her".
The court heard Miss Pearson might have been unconscious through drink when Morton, who was a foot taller than his 5'3" victim and six stones heavier, struck.
On the day she died, July 23 last year, Miss Pearson had met her boyfriend, Jed Hope, in a pub in Lincoln to celebrate Mr Hope's 19th birthday.
Morton, described in court as a close friend of Mr Hope, was already at the pub when Miss Pearson, who lived in the village of Marston, Lincolnshire, arrived. It was the first time she had met her killer.
The trio drank in the pub and bought more alcohol at a convenience store before Morton, whose parents were away, invited the couple to his house in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Mr Hope said he could not afford the train fare and was not allowed overnight visitors at his home so Miss Pearson, who had told her parents she would be staying over at a friend's house, decided to go alone with the intention her boyfriend would join them there early the next morning.
Mr Hope told the court how he asked Morton to keep Hannah, who worked for restaurant chain Pizza Express, safe as he kissed her goodbye at the station.
However, once she was at his home, Morton gave her wine, beer and port then - according to the account he gave in the witness box - put her into bed and got in alongside her.
Morton told the court that he had previously tried strangling a previous partner and was "curious" after "seeing it on a film".
But he said Hannah's death was an accident, claiming under cross-examination that he had got "carried away" and was "disgusted with himself".
Judge Mrs Justice Carr sentenced Morton to 12 years in prison, of which he will have to serve at least half.
She told him: "You enjoyed the domination, something you had seen on a porn DVD previously, and had also tried with at least one previous girlfriend.
"I am sure, as the jury was, that Hannah did not valid and informed consent to this escalated activity in the knowledge that it carried the risk of some bodily injury.
"She had never been involved in such activity before, was very intoxicated and, if not totally unconscious, then certainly confused and not thinking straight. She was in no position to object, trapped underneath you whilst you strangled her."