Ronald Castree

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Ronald Charles Edward Castree


image_size =
image_caption =
date_of_birth = 18 October 1953 (aged 54)
place_of_birth = Littleborough, Lancashire, England
date_of_death =
place_of_death =
charge = Murder of Lesley Molseed
penalty = Life imprisonment
status = In prison
occupation = Taxi driver, Office Clerk, Comic Book Dealer
spouse =
parents =
children =

Ronald Castree was convicted on 12 November 2007 for the murder of Lesley Molseed.cite news
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7086361.stm
title = Man guilty of 1975 child murder
publisher = BBC
date = 2007-11-12]

On Sunday 5 November 2006, it was announced that a 53-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the murder of Lesley Molseed that had taken place in 1975. [cite news | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6118544.stm | title = Man held over 1975 child murder | date = 2006-11-06 ] DNA evidence was alleged to have shown a "direct hit" with a sample found at the scene of the murder. Ronald Castree of Shaw and Crompton, Greater Manchester,Citation | last =Hooton|first=Richard|title=Castree: 'A monster in our midst'|newspaper=Oldham Evening Chronicle|pages=1|year=2007|date=2007-11-13] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6123054.stm|title=Man remanded over 1975 murder |publisher=BBC News|date=2006-11-07|accessdate=2007-11-13|format=http|author=Anon] was charged with the murder of Lesley Molseed and made his first court appearance on 7 November 2006 where he was remanded in custody. At a court hearing on 19 April 2007, Castree pleaded not guilty. [cite news | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6571323.stm | title = Man denies 1975 schoolgirl murder | date = 2007-04-19 ] On 23 April 2007 he was refused bail. [cite news | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6583343.stm| title = Molseed charge man refused bail | date = 2007-04-23 ]

Castree's trial began at Bradford Crown Court on 22 October 2007. [ cite news | publisher = BBC News | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7055798.stm | title = Man on trial for Molseed murder | date = 2007-10-22 ] He was found guilty on 12 November 2007 and jailed for life, with a recommendation to serve a minimum of 30 years, [cite news | publisher = Sky News | url = http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1292531,00.html | title = Man Jailed For Life Over Girl's 1975 Murder | date = 2007-10-22 ] which is expected to keep him in prison until the age of 84.

A DNA sample from Castree, taken on 1 October 2005 when he was arrested but not charged in connection with another sex attack, was a direct match with a semen sample found on Lesley's underwear, although Castree was not charged with this offence as it was later dropped. During the trial a scientist has told a jury how DNA taken from the underwear of murdered schoolgirl Lesley Molseed were linked to the man accused of her murder. Dr Gemma Escott explained to Bradford Crown Court the chances of the semen samples belonging to anyone other than the defendant were one in a billion. Two weeks before he killed Molseed, Castree's wife gave birth to a son whose biological father was a man she had an affair with. On 3 October 1975 Castree's wife went back into hospital with deep vein thrombosis, leaving Castree home alone on the day of the murder. It is believed that his wife giving birth to another man's child was a trigger into Castree's murder of Molseed.

Originally from the Turf Hill estate of Rochdale,cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2209813,00.html|title=Net finally falls on right man|date=2007-11-12|accessdate=2007-11-14|publisher=guardian.co.uk|author=Wainwright, Martin|format=http] for many years, Castree was a taxi driver who lived in nearby Shaw and Crompton. He was unpopular with his neighbours, who said he had a very nasty temper. His former wife said "he was foul with his mouth, and foul with his fists".Citation | last =Hooton|first=Richard|title=Castree: "A monster in our midst|newspaper=Oldham Evening Chronicle|pages=1|year = 2007 |date=2007-11-13]

Stefan Kiszko, a Civil Servant from Rochdale, spent just over sixteen years in prison for the murder of Molseed until scientific evidence showed he could not have committed the crime. This evidence was known to the police at the time but was suppressed and not disclosed to the defence. His conviction was overturned in February 1992 but he died suddenly 22 months later.

References

External links

* [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=493220&in_page_id=1770 Daily mail news]