- Steve Wright, a convicted serial killer, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murder of Victoria Hall in 1999.
- Wright is already serving a whole-life term for the murders of five women in Ipswich in 2006.
- The court heard emotional statements from Victoria's family detailing the lasting grief caused by her murder.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Steve Wright, a convicted serial killer already serving a whole-life term for the murders of five women near Ipswich in 2006, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years for the kidnapping and murder of Victoria Hall, who was 17 when she was killed in 1999.
Life Sentence With Minimum 40 Years
At the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Bennathan told Wright that he would “die in prison” as he delivered the sentence. The judge noted that Wright’s guilty plea was one of the few points in his favor.
In addition to the life sentence for murder, Wright received 12 years for Victoria’s kidnapping and nine years for the attempted kidnapping of Emily Doherty. The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently.
Victoria Hall Disappeared After Night Out
The court heard that Victoria had been out in Felixstowe with her friend Gemma Algar on the night she disappeared in September 1999. Gemma reported hearing two screams shortly after the pair parted ways.
Victoria’s body was found days later.
Attempted Kidnapping Survivor Described Lasting Impact
Emily Doherty, who escaped an attempted kidnapping by Wright, described the lasting effect of the incident in her victim impact statement. She also told the court she felt she was treated dismissively when she reported what happened, saying she was made to feel like a “silly little girl.”
The judge said Wright had been “on the prowl” across that weekend and indicated it was likely Doherty would have been killed if she had not managed to get away.
Family Statements Detailed Long-Term Grief
Statements from Victoria’s loved ones described the ongoing impact of her death. Her brother, Steven, said he will miss her “every day” for the rest of his life. Gemma told the court her friend’s murder “turned her life upside down.”
Following sentencing, Victoria’s father, Graham Hall, spoke outside court and said his wife did not live to see the case reach this outcome.
Evidence and Investigation Details Raised in Court
The hearing also included details about how the case developed over time, including forensic testing that identified DNA consistent with Wright. The court heard that investigators re-examined samples recovered during the post-mortem examination, using methods capable of detecting very small fragments of DNA.
The Crown Prosecution Service also released CCTV images it said showed Wright at a petrol station in the hours after Victoria’s abduction and murder.
Wright Already Serving Whole-Life Term
Wright remains in prison under a whole-life order for the 2006 murders of five women near Ipswich. The new sentence adds a separate life term with a minimum 40-year period before parole can be considered.
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