Ben Oliver

Ben Oliver, 25, stabbed his 74-year-old grandfather to death in Mottingham, south London, in January 2021. He admitted manslaughter due to diminished ...

In the months before the killing, he had become aware of allegations of sexual abuse against his grandfather, who was also said to have mistreated his wife and had affairs, jurors were told. The man, named only as Steve in court, subjected Ben Oliver "to a sexualised environment", and introduced him to child pornography at the age of five. Sentencing hearings are witnessed daily by journalists, juries, victims or their families. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Opening up the courtroom to cameras to film the sentencing of some of the country's most serious offenders will improve transparency and reinforce confidence in the justice system. During sentencing, Oliver, of Bexleyheath, south London, was denied a hospital order because he "presents a significant risk to the public", the court heard. A "very damaged man" has been jailed for killing his bedbound grandfather in a knife attack, in the first filmed sentencing in England and Wales.

Judge sentenced 25-year-old Ben Oliver to life with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months after he fatally stabbed his grandfather.

You clearly displayed many of the recognised features of autism spectrum disorder and you lacked the ability to show empathy for others with the exception of your nan and to some extent your grandad until shortly before his death," she said. It was a brutal attack, plainly carried out with the intention of killing him." Louis Mably QC, for the prosecution, said: "He had been repeatedly stabbed and slashed with a knife in the face, and in particular in the neck. The camera, at the back of the court, is not be allowed to film the defendant, victims, witnesses, jurors, barristers, staff or public gallery. Broadcasters are able to air the judge’s sentencing remarks from the court following a change in the law. There was a 10-second time lag on the live feed so filming can be halted if there is disruption.

A judge has jailed a young man for the manslaughter of his grandfather in the first televised sentencing to take place at the Old Bailey.

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon, said the move was “very positive” in promoting open justice. The move to broadcast Oliver’s sentencing was announced by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday and was hailed by broadcasters as a “landmark moment for open justice” and a “victory for the viewer”. Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Opening up the courtroom to cameras to film the sentencing of some of the country’s most serious offenders will improve transparency and reinforce confidence in the justice system. In the months before the killing, he became aware of allegations of sexual abuse against his grandfather, who was also said to have treated his wife badly and had affairs. Jurors were told the defendant grew up in “troubled and difficult times”, and in 2016 he was convicted of sexual offences against a young girl when he was aged 15. His trial had heard he had repeatedly stabbed and slashed the bedbound victim in the face and neck as he lay “helpless” in his bedroom.

Ben Oliver, 25, was acquitted of murder but had admitted the manslaughter of 74-year-old David Oliver in Mottingham, south London, on January 19 last year.

"Sentencing of serious criminal cases is something in which there is a legitimate public interest. "The law was introduced in 2020. Interim director of BBC News Jonathan Munro said: "Justice must be seen to be done, so this is a crucial moment for transparency in the justice system - and for our audiences, who will be able to understand the judicial process better by witnessing it for themselves." John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: "Filming judges' sentencing remarks in the Crown Court of England and Wales is a victory for the viewer. Cameras already operate in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court but bringing them to the Crown Court is a "significant development", he said. "The solemnity of the proceedings are preserved entirely." And it's always seemed to me that this is a part of the criminal process, which can be recorded and broadcast in many cases, but not all, without compromising the administration of justice or the interests of justice." The move to allow cameras in the Crown Court follows a change in the law in 2020, but implementation was delayed in the pandemic. The move to broadcast Oliver's sentencing was announced by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday and was hailed by broadcasters as a "landmark moment for open justice" and a "victory for the viewer". That love turned to hatred of his grandfather and Oliver developed an "obsessional tunnel vision" leading to a determined decision to kill in a "ferocious" way, the judge said. The defendant had used a kitchen knife in the brutal attack, then confessed what he had done to his grandmother, the court had heard. The court heard Oliver attacked his bedbound grandfather, who lay "helpless" in his bedroom following a stroke.

A YOUNG man has been jailed for the manslaughter of his grandfather after legal history was made with the first televised sentencing to take place at the ...

Judge Sarah Munro QC made legal history on Thursday as she sentenced 25-year-old Ben Oliver to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months. The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon, said the move was "very positive" in promoting open justice. The move to broadcast Oliver's sentencing was announced by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday and was hailed by broadcasters as a "landmark moment for open justice" and a "victory for the viewer".

Ben Oliver, 25, stabbed his 74-year-old grandfather to death in Mottingham, south east London, in January 2021. He admitted manslaughter due to diminished ...

Every day, reporters, victims or their families listen to a judge delivering a sentence. For the first time, the public will be able to watch a judge performing their work in full, in the name of public protection. In the months before the killing, he had become aware of allegations of sexual abuse against his grandfather, who was also said to have mistreated his wife and had affairs, jurors were told. Sentencing hearings are witnessed daily by journalists, juries, victims or their families. The man, named only as Steve in court, subjected Ben Oliver "to a sexualised environment", and introduced him to child pornography at the age of five. A "very damaged man" has been jailed for killing his bedbound grandfather in a knife attack, in the first filmed sentencing in England and Wales.

Judge Sarah Munro QC jailed Ben Oliver, 25, for the manslaughter of his grandfather.

The move to broadcast Oliver’s sentencing was announced by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday and was hailed by broadcasters as a “landmark moment for open justice” and a “victory for the viewer”. “And it’s always seemed to me that this is a part of the criminal process which can be recorded and broadcast in many cases, but not all, without compromising the administration of justice or the interests of justice.” She said a series of “deeply unfortunate events” had combined to make an “almost perfect storm” in which the killing happened. The defendant had used a kitchen knife in the brutal attack, then confessed what he had done to his grandmother, the court had heard. That love turned to hatred of his grandfather and Oliver developed an “obsessional tunnel vision” leading to a determined decision to kill in a “ferocious” way, the judge said. The move to allow cameras in the crown court follows a change in the law in 2020 but implementation was delayed due to the pandemic.