Great Baddow: McCullough is convicted of murdering parents

Lewis Adams
Report from Chelmsford Crown Court

If you’re not familiar with the legal system, here’s what will likely happen today.

I am in court together with other journalists from broadcasters and national newspapers. We will all first listen to the prosecutor outline the facts of the case.

The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, but the judge will have to set a minimum term she must serve before she can be considered for parole.

In some cases, the judge may impose a ‘whole life tariff’ – a case of ‘life meaning life’ with no chance of parole.

The prosecution team will outline aggravating factors as to why Virginia McCullough should receive a higher minimum sentence.

At this part of the hearing we may hear an impact statement read on behalf of the other family members of the victims.

McCullough’s lawyer, Christine Agnew KC, will then propose mitigation measures on behalf of her client, outlining reasons why McCullough should receive a lesser sentence.

Once all that is done, the judge – Mr Justice Adam Johnson – will weigh both arguments on what sentence he will hand down.