The life sentence minimum tariff for killer Harrison Lawrence-Van Pooss, of Margate, who murdered Claire Knights on 23 August 2023, has been increased by the Court of Appeal.
Lawrence-Van Pooss was sentenced in February to a minimum term of 25 years and 183 days.
But the Court of Appeal deemed the tariff as ‘unduly lenient’ and increased the minimum to be served to a minimum term of 29 years and 229 days.
Lord Justice Edis, Mr Justice Calver and Judge Angela Morris decided not enough weight had been given to Claire targeted as a lone woman as well as the extreme violence used and the two days her body was hidden before being discovered, reports The Standard.
The killer had targeted Claire as she walked with her dog back from the beach at Minnis Bay. He sexually assaulted her and beat her repeatedly. He then dumped her body in a nearby dyke. Claire did not know her attacker.
Claire’s body was concealed by the reeds and grasses and was not found for two days. Her son and his friends, who were searching for her, discovered her body in the dyke.
The day before the murder, Lawrence-Van Pooss, 21, had been caught upskirting a woman at The Powell pub where he worked. He was confronted but went on the run before he could be arrested. It is believed he camped out by the beach overnight, before attacking Claire the following afternoon.
Following Lawrence-Van Pooss’s arrest, he was detained for mental health treatment. Extensive expert reports from both the prosecution and defence were commissioned. He continued to claim he had no memory of what had happened, until he claimed to have his memory return in June 2024, when the case was listed for trial.
Lawrence-Van Pooss eventually pleaded guilty to murder and voyeurism in December 2024. And was sentenced in February this year at Canterbury Crown Court to a life term with a minimum tariff of 25 years to be served.
But the case was referred to the Court of Appeal for July 11 to determine whether the sentence was unduly lenient and should be increased.
The Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme allows anyone to ask for certain Crown Court sentences to be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) if they think the sentence is too lenient.
The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said: “Lawrence-Van Pooss’ attack on Claire Knights was horrific. He assaulted and brutally murdered her, in a totally random attack. I welcome the court’s decision to increase Van-Poos’ sentence and I would like to express my deepest sympathies to Claire’s family and loved ones.”
Good news.
Good news
Good news indeed, what was sickening in this case as well as the appalling crime was the fact the police “ found no trace”
Of the victim along the route yet along the same route her son and his friends found her body. How absolutely horrific for them. Condolences to the family for their enormous loss.
Should have had-The death sentence-No mercy-Did he show mercy to that poor woman. A life-For a life.