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British Serial Killer Receives Additional Life Sentence for Cold Case Murder
Steve Wright, the notorious British serial killer known as the 'Suffolk Strangler,' has been handed a new life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 1999 kidnap and murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall. The 67-year-old, who is already serving a whole-life sentence for murdering five women in 2006, was told by the judge at London's Central Criminal Court that he will 'die in prison.'
Decades-Long Cold Case Solved
The breakthrough in the 26-year-old cold case came through pioneering Y-STR DNA analysis that detected tiny fragments of male DNA, matching Wright's profile after more than two decades. Victoria Hall disappeared on September 18, 1999, after leaving the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe, Suffolk. Her naked body was found five days later in a water-filled ditch 25 miles away in Creeting St Peter.
'Victoria was a lovely girl with her whole life ahead of her,' her father Graham Hall said outside the court. 'All of this was taken from us by Steve Wright.'
Failed Kidnap Attempt the Night Before
The court also heard that Wright attempted to kidnap 22-year-old Emily Doherty the night before Hall's murder. Doherty managed to escape by hiding in driveways and gardens as Wright pursued her in his car and on foot. She provided police with a partial license plate description that later helped identify Wright's Ford Granada as the suspect vehicle.
'Given the sentence already imposed for your other horrific crimes, it is virtually certain you will die in prison,' the judge told Wright during sentencing.
No Remorse Shown
Wright showed no emotion throughout the proceedings, even when confronted by Hall's family members. He had initially denied all charges but changed his plea to guilty just as his trial was about to begin. The Crown Prosecution Service described Wright as 'representing the very worst of humanity' and emphasized that 'time is no barrier to justice.'
In addition to the 40-year sentence for murder, Wright received 12 years for Hall's kidnap and 9 years for the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, all to run concurrently with his existing life sentence.
Forensic Breakthrough
The case demonstrates how advanced forensic techniques can solve cold cases decades later. Suffolk Police reopened the investigation in 2019, leading to Wright's arrest in 2024 based on DNA evidence. Enhanced CCTV footage also showed Wright near the crime scene, and vehicle analysis matched his car to witness descriptions.
Tragically, Victoria Hall's mother Lorinda died in December 2025 without seeing justice for her daughter. The family had endured what Graham Hall described as '26 years of hell' waiting for answers.
Sources
Sky News: Steve Wright sentencing
