Man sentenced for Gawcott murder

4 May 2010, 16:36 | Updated: 4 May 2010, 16:42

A 25-year-old man will spend at least 21 years in jail for the murder of Sally Hingston in Gawcott.

Benjamin Harry Radojevic, who's 25 and of Hillesden Road in Gawcott, was found guilty of her murder at Reading Crown Court on Friday.

Radojevic was arrested after the body of 67-year-old Mrs Hingston was found in fields outside of Gawcott in August last year, hours after she was reported missing by her family, who grew concerned when she didn’t return from her morning walk.  

A post mortem examination found Mrs Hingston died from multiple injuries caused by being beaten with a golf club and a video recorder.

Det Ch Insp Peter Vigurs, from the Major Crime department, told Heart:

"He will spend 21 years in prison before he can first be considered for release. There's no guarantee therefore that at the age of 46 that he would be considered for release, and so by that time it would mean in effect he would have spent almost half of his life in prison.

"If he is then released - if it is considered suitable - then he's going to be subject to a life license and very, very close and rigorous monitoring."

Commenting on the guilty verdict on Friday Det Ch Insp Vigurs said:

“I am very satisfied that we have a verdict for Sally Hingston that is right and fair. The court heard graphic details of how Radojevic attacked Sally and of the injuries he inflicted on her before he left her in that field. Sally was robbed of her life suddenly and prematurely. Her family and friends are left to come to terms with the loss of someone they loved and to try to understand why she was murdered.

“I would like to say two things to the local community, in addition to thanking them for supporting the investigation.

“Sally Hingston lived in the same village as the man who murdered her.  Gawcott and the wider Buckingham community have been shaken by this case. I want to re-assure people that, although the details of this case are harrowing and have attracted wide attention, we have to remember that attacks like this are extremely rare.

“Although Ben Radojevic has not been fully honest, there is no doubt that as an adult in his mid-twenties he alone must take full responsibility for the decisions he made and for Sally Hingston’s murder. No-one else is responsible and that includes Ben’s family. They live in the same community and are trying to come to terms with this also.

“A tribute to Sally from her family will follow, but I would like to say to Reg, Bruce and Roy Hingston that I admire the courage and dignity they have shown throughout this ordeal. I want them to know that everyone who spoke to the police about Sally during this investigation told us how popular and well-loved she was locally and how much people miss her.”