Bio

James Patterson Smith was born around 1948 in England. He grew up in Manchester. Not much is known about his early childhood, but it is recorded that he later became an unemployed divorcee. He lived in the Gorton area of Manchester. He seemed to take care of his home, as acquaintances described him as "house-proud and well-groomed." Smith did not smoke or drink alcohol.

Smith's marriage ended in 1980 after ten years. His wife left him because of his history of violence. After his marriage, he had a relationship with a 20-year-old woman named Tina Watson from 1980 to 1982. During this time, he was abusive toward her, even while she was pregnant. This relationship ended when Watson escaped from Smith.

In 1982, Smith began another relationship with a 15-year-old girl named Wendy Mottershead. He was violent toward her as well. One incident involved him holding her head underwater in a kitchen sink. This was not the last of his abusive behavior.

In 1993, he started a relationship with Kelly Bates when she was only 14 years old. Kelly was a student who had ambitions of becoming a teacher. She moved in with Smith after leaving school and kept the relationship a secret from her parents. Her mother had a bad feeling about Smith when she first met him. Despite their concerns, Kelly returned to live with him after a brief separation in 1995.

Over time, Kelly became more withdrawn, especially after she quit her part-time job in December 1995. Her parents noticed bruises on her body, which she explained away as accidents. In March 1996, her family received cards for their anniversary and a birthday, supposedly from Kelly, but her parents later learned that Smith had written them. Her brother also attempted to visit, but Smith told him Kelly was not at home.

Kelly's situation became more alarming as her parents realized they had little contact with her since sending those cards. They worried for her safety, but little did they know the extent of her troubles in the months leading up to her death on April 16, 1996.

Murder Story

Kelly Anne Bates was murdered on April 16, 1996, at the age of 17 by James Patterson Smith in Manchester, England. Leading up to her death, she was tortured for four weeks. Smith inflicted severe injuries on her, including gouging out her eyes and stabbing her multiple times. The pathologist who examined her body later reported that she had over 150 separate injuries.

On the day after the murder, Smith went to a police station and stated that he had accidentally killed Bates. He claimed that during an argument in the bath, she had inhaled water and died. When officers arrived at his home, they found Bates' body in a bedroom. Her blood was discovered throughout the house, indicating the violence that had taken place.

During the month prior to her death, Bates had been kept prisoner in Smith's home. She was often tied up and was not given food or water. The injuries she suffered were extreme and included burns, scalds, and multiple stab wounds.

Smith was arrested the day after the murder. He denied murdering Bates, stating that she would provoke him. He tried to shift the blame onto her, claiming she had challenged him to harm her. However, a jury found him guilty of murder after a brief deliberation. On November 19, 1997, he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 20 years. During the trial, the brutality of the case impacted those involved, including the jury.