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Our long battle to bring Cassie’s killer to justice
Peter Dominiczak22.05.09
The family of a woman killed by her ex-boyfriend told today of their long fight for justice after he admitted taking the teenager's life, years after being cleared of her murder.
Mario Celaire, 31, became the first person to be convicted of a crime that a jury had already acquitted him of. The former professional footballer admitted beating 19-year-old Cassandra McDermott to death, seven years after he was originally found not guilty.
A jury cleared him in 2002 after he claimed to have left her “alive and well” minutes before her death. But in 2007, Celaire attacked another ex-girlfriend, Kara Hoyte, then 19, with a hammer, inflicting life-threatening injuries.
She was left partially paralysed and with speech difficulties that meant it took a year before she was able to speak to police, telling them Celaire had confessed to Ms McDermott's killing.
At the Old Bailey yesterday he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder. The double jeopardy rule preventing people being tried again for the same crime was overturned in 2005.
The Standard has also learned that Celaire was convicted of a sexual offence before he killed Cassandra in November 2001 after years of domestic violence, raising questions over why he was not stopped.
Ms McDermott's family today described their struggle for justice and welcomed the conviction, but said their family had almost been destroyed.
Speaking to the Standard in the house in Streatham where her sister was murdered, Andrea McDermott, 38, said: “We lost all faith in the justice system. We battled for seven long years to bring someone who we knew was guilty to justice.”
She also spoke of the moment she discovered her sister's body. She said: “My mum was in Jamaica and Cassie was looking after the house. I walked in and saw Cassie covered up by a quilt. As soon as I pulled back the cover I knew she was dead. Finding her body was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I gave my own sister CPR knowing she was dead.”
Ms McDermott's mother Jennifer, 58, works as a probation officer and has set up a domestic abuse charity in memory of her daughter.
She said: “In that first trial, Cassandra was the one who was on trial and she wasn't there to defend herself. The defence wanted to discredit her and the CPS never did enough to bring Mario to justice.
“We always knew he killed her. After he was acquitted I did everything in my power to help bring him to justice.”
Ms McDermott's family said that if Celaire had been found guilty in 2001, Kara Hoyte would never have been attacked and had her life destroyed.
Ms McDermott's other sister, Sophia Springer, 38, said: “That poor girl had to go through the same thing as my sister. She survived but her life will never be the same. If he had not been acquitted all those years ago, he would not have been able to destroy her life.”
Ms Hoyte's mother, Eunice Lander, said: “I have only got half the girl I had but I still have Kara. She wanted him to be found and she wanted him to go to prison for what he did. Now she hopes he never gets out.”
Celaire, who changed his name to Mario McNish, played for Maidstone United and for League One club Brentford.
He will be sentenced in July.
Reader views (2)
I listened to Eddie Nester talking to Cassies mum on 7/09/09 and i was very touched as i've read about this case in the paper. This man was left to attack another young girl using all his power, violence and anger towards an innocent person. He has destroyed her life and took one away, these men/women who are very bad people should be taken off are streets ASAP so we can all be safe as they could attack anybody randomly. It took seven years to put him away and that is tooo long as far as i'm concerned and he probably didn't get long enough due to our justice system. It's so sad i was nearly crying listening to Cassies mum she must be so angry and feel decieved as she new this guy and his family. What a control freak!
- Emma Gabriel, Erith Kent
Why sentenced in July? He's obviously an animal who should be put away for good. Throw away the key.
- Jj, London
