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Tonight: Living With a Killer

In an in-depth interview with ITV's Tonight, Tia Sharp's mother and grandmother tell their harrowing story and speak openly about their loss

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Tia's mother: Hazell was 'soft, gentle and friendly'

The mother of murdered Tia Sharp has told Daybreak that if she saw her daughter's killer again she would ask him "why?"

Speaking to Daybreak, Natalie Sharp said when she knew Stuart Hazell he was "soft, gentle," and "friendly", "there weren't a bad bone in him", she added.

Stuart Hazell was sentenced to a minimum term of 38 years in prison after finally admitting the murder of schoolgirl Tia Sharp.

Ms Sharp added that she trusted Hazell with all of her children, "100% explicitly".

Admitting that she wanted to visit him in jail she said she wanted to ask him why he did it, "but then is he gonna answer the questions? Then I wanna put my hands around my throat".

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Stuart Hazell jailed for Tia murder

Tia Sharp's mother has told ITV Stuart Hazell deserves to suffer.

He was jailed today for at least 38 years for killing the 12-year-old last summer.

In an exclusive interview, Tia's mother, who once dated Hazell before her mother got into a relationship with him, said she never suspected him.

The judge said Hazell's change in plea had robbed the family of finding out what happened to Tia the night she was killed, and that 'all that lay ahead of her, will now never be.'

From the Old Bailey, Ronke Phillips reports.

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Sobs and shout of 'beast' as Stuart Hazell is sentenced

There were sobs and a shout of 'beast' from the public gallery as Hazell was sentenced. Tia's grandmother Christine Bicknell could be seen crying and hugging a relative.

All that lay ahead of her [Tia] - a career, loves and family of her own - will now never be. And the loss of her has been devastating for her mother, her father and all her relatives and friends.

The tragedy of their loss and her death is because of your act in murdering Tia Sharp. You are responsible.

– Mr Justice Nicol
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'Shame and fear' may have driven Hazell to kill

by Juliet Bremner: ITV Correspondent

It was very likely that Stuart Hazell smothered Tia Sharp, the 12-year-old schoolgirl that he admits killing, said Mr Justice Nichol as he was sentencing him.

He said that she was "a sparky girl, full of life" who idolised Hazell and he had taken her life.

Stuart Hazell
Stuart Hazell Credit: Press Association

The Judge said that it was a terrible crime against a very young girl but he did not accept that sexual motivation had been proved beyond doubt. There was no doubt that he had sexual conduct of some kind with Tia and it could have been "shame and fear" that made him kill her.

He was given life with 38 years minimum.

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