Family in tribute to murder victim Nicole Cartmell
The family of a young West Bromwich mother who was murdered by her boyfriend before being hidden underneath the floorboards of his home have paid tribute to her.
The family of a young West Bromwich mother who was murdered by her boyfriend before being hidden underneath the floorboards of his home have paid tribute to her.
Former Walsall College student Nicole Cartmell, aged 18, was killed just weeks after giving birth to a baby boy last year. Her body was found in a house where Stephen Devesey lived in Whateley Road, Handsworth, on March 2. Devesey, aged 21, was yesterday found guilty of murder and jailed for life. He will serve a minimum of 17 years in prison.
Miss Cartmell's family issued a statement after the sentencing.
It said:?"The Cartmell family would like to give our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with finally bringing our daughter Nicole's murderer to justice.
"There are too many to mention but each and every one have our eternal gratitude for their hard work, support and genuine care during this horrendous 18 months.
"The verdict, the sentence will never be enough, it will never justify the loss of our beautiful daughter.
"Her precious baby boy has had his mother taken, an irreplaceable bond's been broken, it's broken our hearts." The statement continued: "We want as a family to now be left alone to concentrate on trying to recover from this ordeal and to raise our grandson to be a happy, much-loved and protected little boy."
Miss Cartmell had last been seen on February 10 last year. Devesey was the father of her son, who was born in January 2011. Miss Cartmell had ended the relationship that month.
DS Mick Griffiths, from West Midlands Police's major investigation review team, said: "The discovery of Nicole's body ignited the worst tragedy any parent could imagine and my thoughts remain with Nicole's family at this time.
"I welcome today's verdict and sentence and I hope that it will bring some comfort to them."
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