A trainee lawyer has pleaded guilty to murdering a “much loved and respected” young teacher.
Appearing by video link at St Albans Crown Court on Friday (March 18), Carl Langdell, 26, admitted killing Buckhurst Hill woman Katie Locke.
The body of Miss Locke, 23, was found in a room at the four star Theobalds Park Hotel in Waltham Cross on Christmas Eve last year.
She had been strangled.
Her family were in court on Friday.
In a statement released by Hertfordshire police after her death, they said: “We are distraught, in shock and totally devastated.
“There was not a bad bone in Katie’s body.
“Katie worked hard and loved her job as a teacher.
“In what little spare time she had she enjoyed sports.
“We now feel like our future has been stolen from us.”
It has been reported that Langdell, from Cheshunt, was seeking psychiatric help after previously being convicted of making threats to kill in Bristol.
He will be sentenced on April 21 in St Albans following the preparation of a prosecution psychiatric report.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article