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Offender Databases Nicholas Edgarton

Nicholas Andrew Edgarton

Alias

.

Offences

Manslaughter of 71 year old Joan Betti in September 2005 after firebombing her home in Upper Hutt
Clayton was the lead offender

Victims

Joan Betti

Offender Affiliations

Carol Clayton
Richard Pearce

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1987

Current Location

At large

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to six years in June 2007
Paroled November 2010

Background
NZ Herald story here and here
More from the Dominion Post
The trio, all from Upper Hutt, admitted starting the house fire in which Mrs Betti died on September 3, 2005. The Crown alleged Clayton orchestrated the attack out of jealousy, and that the two young men, who were boarders at her house, threw a molotov cocktail each, in the early hours of that Saturday morning. Mrs Betti died from smoke inhalation from a fire caused when Pearce and Edgarton threw the molotov cocktails into her house. The main issue was that of intent and Justice MacKenzie instructed the jury to use inferences to decide someone's intention. He advised the jury the trio were guilty or either murder or manslaughter.

The Crown said Clayton was guilty as a party to murder, for aiding, enticing or abetting Pearce and Edgarton. All three acknowledged they were guilty of culpable homicide but said they were guilty of manslaughter, not murder. It was an emotional conclusion for Joan Betti's family. Outside the court her daughter Judith Betti was overcome by emotion and said she was "very happy" with the guilty verdicts for Clayton. "It's good for my mum. Now I can put a head stone on her grave, because she's resting in peace." She also agreed with the manslaughter convictions for Edgarton and Pearce. "It was quite cool because they didn't know anything about mum being there."

Mrs Betti's son Brian Betti was also elated. "I feel great. Carol (Clayton) got found guilty, I feel lovely. That's what I wanted - for her to go to jail and she's going to go to jail for a very long time." He too was satisfied with the verdicts for Pearce and Edgarton. "I didn't want them to go to jail for murder, but Carol, she got burned." It had been a hard 18 months for the family, who had supported each other, he said. "Just family besides us all the way, keeping strong. That's what family's there for." They would continue to be there for each other, Mr Betti said. "We've got to build a bridge and get over it and go from there. Fingers crossed nothing like this ever happens to us again." Pearce's mother, Sue Pearce, said she was happy with the verdict for her son. "That's what we've been asking for from day one. "He would have pleaded guilty to manslaughter from day one if they were allowed to," she said.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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