Braintree: Victims' family speak out after Oakes found guilty (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Braintree: Victims' family speak out after Oakes found guilty

1:10pm Friday 11th May 2012 in News

David Oakes is found guilty of murdering Christine Chambers and their daughter Shania Chambers.

He had denied the charges but was found guilty at lunchtime by a jury. He will be sentenced this afternoon.

Members of Miss Chambers’ family said in a statement: "The events of the early hours of Monday, June 6, will live with our family for the rest of our lives.

"To lose a loved one in death is heart breaking, to lose a daughter and granddaughter in the way in which David Oakes brutally tortured Christine and then murdered her and Shania is emotionally beyond description and belief.

"Only time can ease our pain, but nothing, or no one, can ever replace what has been ripped from the lives our family; our loving memories of Christine and Shania will never fade, they will be cherished and live on in our hearts forever.

"We are a family who speak our minds, so with David Oakes we will be no different. It is our sincerest hope that he suffers in some way every day of what is left of his hateful miserable life.”

Senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Godfrey O’Toole said: "On the night that David Oakes went to the home of Christine Chambers armed with a shotgun, he had only one thing in his mind, to inflict as much fear, pain and suffering on Christine and her family as possible.

"His acts of violence were brutal, torturous and inflicted over a long period of time, at the end of which he cold bloodily shot and murdered Christine and Shania.

"Not content with what he had done, he later sought to excuse himself of his murderous acts and blame Christine for the death of her beloved daughter.

"The accusation was a vile and repulsive attempt to escape justice, by a contemptible individual.

"I cannot begin to express the level of my appreciation and respect for Jean and Ken Chambers and their family for the support they have given throughout this investigation. The courage they have shown has been immense.

"The memories of Christine and Shania will never fade for the family left behind, and whilst nothing can ever make up for the loss of their loved ones, I sincerely hope that the outcome of the trial will provide them with a degree of closure.”