Sadistic monster killer dies in Durham hospital (From The Northern Echo)

Sadistic monster killer dies in Durham hospital

11:35am Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)

A MONSTER who sadistically tortured his former partner before shooting her and their two-year-old daughter dead has died in a North-East hospital.

David Oakes shot Christine Chambers, 38, and daughter Shania at their home in Braintree, Essex, in June 2011.

At Chelmsford Crown Court last year, Oakes was told he would spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Today (Tuesday, February 12), the Ministry of Justice confirmed the 51-year-old died yesterday in hospital from natural causes.

Oakes had been held at high-security Frankland Prison, Durham. He died in the University Hospital of North Durham, also in Durham City.

His death will be investigated by the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. An inquest will be opened at Crook Civic Centre tomorrow morning.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “HMP Frankland prisoner David Robert Oakes died at hospital on Monday. He is presumed to have died from natural causes.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”

Oakes had denied two charges of murder but was found guilty following a trial last May.

Mr Justice Fulford described Oakes as a "bullying and controlling man" who killed his ex-partner simply because she wished to start a new life.

He ordered him to serve a whole life sentence, making him one of a limited group of inmates who would never be released from prison.

In November, he and several other criminals appealed their whole life sentences, arguing such orders were incompatible with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment.

However, the Court of Appeal rejected Oakes’ case.

Oakes’ best man, Ian Flitt, said he had mixed emotions about Oakes’ death, thought to be from cancer.

“He was a monster. But I remember him being my best mate as well.

“It (his death) is welcome news and the end to a saga.

“His death is probably the best thing for everybody concerned, including him (Oakes).”

Frankland holds some of the country’s most dangerous criminals.

Shoelace Strangler Paul Culshaw, who strangled a young mother with a shoelace, died after being found collapsed in his Frankland cell last week.

More Crime News

• Twelve jailed over drug farm
• Day Six: Dave McLuckie Trial
• Career in politics comes crashing down for former Cleveland Police Authority chairman Dave McLuckie
• Rise, rise and fall of Dave McLuckie
• Life ban for Hartlepool woman whose starving dog died and was dumped in a wheelie bin
• Appeal after attempted robbery in park
• Police minister praises dignified campaign of relatives of Horden gun massacre
• Prison warning as former police authority chairman found guilty of perverting the course of justice
• Man left with horrific facial injuries after spade attack
• Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg on patrol with road policing unit

Comments are closed on this article.