Family, friends relieved after British boyfriend pleads guilty to killing B.C. woman
A British man has pleaded guilty to killing his Canadian girlfriend, who was visiting him in England but had decided to fly home early the week she was murdered.
Jack Sepple, 23, admitted to killing Ashley Wadsworth, 19, in Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex, which is about two hours northeast of London.
Christy Gendron, Wadsworth’s mother, did not sleep as she waited to learn the details of Sepple’s hearing.
Gendron said she got a phone call from someone who was in court who told her Sepple had entered a guilty plea, which was shocking to her since she had planned to go to England for the trial.
“So overwhelmed,” she told CTV News Vancouver. “Relieved that we don't have a lengthy trial to be put through as this has been horrific enough. And then, it was bittersweet because it doesn't bring our Ashley back. So even though we may get a lengthy sentence, it doesn't bring her back.”
In a statement, Det.-Sgt. Scott Egerton wrote, “The evidence against Sepple is so overwhelming that he was left with very few options than to admit his guilt.”
Gendron said her daughter had a six-month visa to visit Sepple and was supposed to come home in April.
In one of Wadsworth’s last posts on Facebook, she uploaded photos of herself with Sepple at various tourist locations, calling it an “amazing trip to London.”
Wadsworth’s best friend, Tianna Kowalchuk, said Wadsworth’s death came as a shock because she never revealed what was happening behind the smiles.
“She would message me and send me photos and she looked happy in the photos,” Kowalchuk said. “She was excited to come home and she even wanted him to come visit eventually to Canada.”
But Wadsworth did confide in her older sister and mother, and revealed she was ready to come home sooner than anticipated.
“Obviously she wasn't happy,” Gendron said. She could not discuss the specifics as the case is still before the courts.
She revealed on Feb. 1, she helped Wadsworth purchase a ticket home for Feb. 3. She was killed the day she got a new plane ticket.
“I just hope her story can shed awareness on domestic violence issues,” Gendron said. “If any girl or guy has fears for their safety…I hope this story may save someone’s life and they’ll take steps to reach out.”
Sepple will be sentenced next month.
Gendron plans to be there for the sentencing hearing to provide her victim impact statement and visit those who have been supportive of her family.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.