"Her life ended in your hands": Stoke City player Andrew Hall jailed for life after admitting murdering teen girlfriend at house party
Andrew Hall admitted stabbing Megan-Leigh Peat Hall 60 times in the head, neck and upper chestStoke City FC Academy player Andrew Hall has been jailed for life after admitting murdering his teenage girlfriend at a house party.
Andrew Hall, 18, stabbed 15-year-old Megan-Leigh Peat 60 times in the head, neck and body at a friend's home.
Megan, from Westoning, Bedfordshire, died at the house in nearby Ampthill at around 1.30am on June 9 from her injuries and severe blood loss.
Hall, who suffered injuries to his hands, was a scholar at Stoke City academy at the time of the murder, and the court heard he was on the brink of signing as a professional player with the club.
Judge Richard Foster gave Hall a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years at Luton Crown Court.
Megan, from Westoning, Bedfordshire, died at the house in nearby Ampthill at around 1.30am on June 9 from her injuries and severe blood loss.
Judge Foster told Hall: "Megan Peat will never experience the thrill and success of exam results, going on to higher education, or perhaps being a bridesmaid at a best friend's wedding or an 18th birthday party.
"Her life ended in your hands at 15 years old.
"Only you know why you did what you did that night and what the catalyst was for such a ferocious attack.
"It is clear you were jealous of her innocent friendships with others."
Hall relentlessly stabbed her 60 times in the head, neck and upper chest.
Two knives, including a serrated bread knife, were found next to her body.
Hall will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court later today.
After the attack Megan's friends laid flowers, photographs and notes outside the house.
One friend wrote: "The emptiness and hurt you have left so many of us with is unimaginable.
"A beautiful girl on the inside and out, whose life was just beginning.
"So many memories growing up with you, Nath and Ricky, the good old days.
"Such a tragedy, so surreal right now.
"Heaven's angel. Rest forever peacefully, with all my love, Chelsea."
The tribute, written on an A4 piece of paper, was decorated with hand-drawn hearts.
Another note read: "Beautiful Megan, I remember the day you were born, the joy you brought your mum and dad to have a daughter and to give your two brothers a little sister. Then you grew into a happy smiley teenager. Heaven has gained an angel."
Chelsie McAneny, 16, said she shared learning support lessons with Megan-Leigh at Harlington Upper School.
She said: "Everyone loved her, she was bubbly and popular and she stuck up for everyone, even when she was down.
"She was a party girl, she loved it.
"You could hear her a mile away. Everyone would say she was a good friend.
"She has been through a lot, which is not for me to go into, but she was proper strong."
Another friend said she had spoken to Megan-Leigh just hours before her death. She said she had spent time in a pub with friends before moving on to the house party.
The schoolgirl, who asked not to be named, added: "Megan was the hero of the school, she was beautiful and she was always so supportive.
"The teachers loved her."
Neighbours said the community in the small town had been shocked by the killing, with one describing the scene as "like a movie set".
The man, who asked not to be named, said he returned to his home near the murder scene at around 2.30am on Saturday.
He said: "When I left it was all quiet but by the time I got back there were police vans and cars and paramedics outside the house. There must have been six police cars.
"I woke my girlfriend to show her and she was in shock. It was like a movie set.
"One of the neighbours came over to fill me in on what had happened. It's shocking because nothing ever happens in Ampthill, it's the sort of place where you don't even get a dirty look in the pub."
The resident said he had heard loud music coming from the house on a number of occasions but had not noticed a party at the property on Friday evening.
Another neighbour, who also asked not to be identified, said a woman in her 40s and her teenage son moved into the rented house around 12 weeks ago.
She said the boy celebrated his 18th birthday about a month ago, adding: "They seem like a nice family. I don't see much of them but when they moved in they did the front garden up so they are obviously house proud."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/andrew-hall-stoke-city-player-1310213 
