Date January 2013 | Location Blackpool, United Kingdom | |
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Sasha Marsden was a 16-year-old girl from Blackpool, England who was stabbed to death on January 31, 2013. Her body was then set on fire. It was alleged by the media that she had received threatening emails prior to the murder. The murder has received international coverage.
Her body was found in an alleyway off South Shore and a post-mortem examination revealed attempts to set fire to it. A 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from the local area were arrested on suspicion of murder the day after it was found. On February 3, 2013 David Minto, the caretaker of a local hotel, was charged with Marsden's murder while the woman was released without charge. Minto appeared in court the following day.
Minto pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court on April 24, 2013. He was remanded in custody to stand trial on July 15, 2013.
Minto's trial began on July 15, 2013. On July 26, Minto was found guilty of Marsden's murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum time of 35 years to serve before being eligible for parole.
Minto appealed his sentence in February 2014, but his sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the minimum term of 35 years was upheld.