Family jailed over fatal torture

James Roberts, Natasha Oldfield and Nicola Roberts
12 April 2012

The torture and death of a man whose headless body was dumped in a lake has been branded "depraved" by a judge as he sentenced six members of the same family.

Judge John Bevan QC made the comments at Luton Crown Court as he jailed three members of the Watt family for life for murdering Michael Gilbert and three others for familial homicide.

The 26-year-old was kept as a slave and tortured for his benefit money before being killed. His headless body was dumped in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, last year.

James Watt, 27, his girlfriend, Natasha Oldfield, 29, and his brother Richard's girlfriend, Nichola Roberts, 22, were jailed for life for murder.

Watt will serve a minimum of 36 years, Oldfield a minimum of 18 and Roberts a minimum of 15.

James's brother, Robert Watt, 20, and his mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, were jailed for eight years and 10 years respectively for familial homicide.

A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, who previously pleaded guilty to familial homicide was sentenced to six years in prison.

James, Robert and Richard Watt had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and, on Friday, Roberts, Oldfield and Smith-Dennis were convicted by the jury.

During the trial, the court heard that Mr Gilbert was kept as a slave and tortured for his benefit money by members of the family at their home in Luton.

Detectives believe he died overnight between January 21 and 22 last year as a result of the abuse he had suffered. His body was dismembered and dumped in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey, where it was discovered in May last year.

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