Serial Killer Steve Wright admits sixth murder: 17-year-old Victoria Hall killed in 1999, Court hears
Steve Wright. Image: PA
Serial killer Steve Wright, already serving a whole-life prison sentence for murdering five women in Suffolk in 2006, has admitted to a sixth killing, bringing long-awaited answers to the family of Victoria Hall, a 17-year-old who disappeared in 1999.
Appearing at the Old Bailey in London, the 67-year-old pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering Victoria Hall, as well as the attempted kidnap of another woman the night before her disappearance. The admission comes more than 25 years after the crime and marks the first time Wright has ever confessed to murder.
Who Was Victoria Hall?
Victoria Hall was a sixth-form student from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, described as bright and ambitious, with plans to study sociology at university. On 18 September 1999, she went on a night out with a friend in Felixstowe, leaving the Bandbox nightclub shortly after 1am.
The two teenagers walked part of the way home together before separating around 2:30am. Victoria was last seen just yards from her house. She was reported missing the following day.
Five days later, her body was discovered in a ditch near an agricultural field in Creeting St Peter, around 25 miles from where she vanished.
A Case That Went Unsolved for Decades
Victoria Hall’s murder remained unsolved for years. In 2001, a businessman was charged and stood trial, but was acquitted by a jury, leaving the case cold and her family without answers.
Suffolk Police formally reopened the investigation in 2019, marking the 20th anniversary of Victoria’s disappearance. Advances in investigative techniques and renewed scrutiny eventually led detectives to Steve Wright, who had been living freely at the time of Victoria’s death.
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Steve Wright and the Ipswich Serial Murders
Steve Wright is infamous for the Ipswich serial murders, a case that shocked the UK in late 2006. Within a six-week period, five women, Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls, were murdered in and around Ipswich.
Wright was arrested in December 2006 and convicted in 2008. He received a rare whole-life order, meaning he will never be released from prison. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Wright never admitted guilt, until now.
Guilty Plea at the Old Bailey
Wright had initially denied the charges relating to Victoria Hall. However, moments before a jury was sworn in, he changed his plea to guilty, admitting both her murder and the attempted abduction of Emily Doherty, then 22, in Felixstowe the previous night.
The court heard audible reactions from the public gallery as Wright confirmed his guilt. The judge postponed sentencing until Friday to allow Victoria’s family to attend and submit victim impact statements.
Prosecutors and Police React
The Crown Prosecution Service said the guilty plea was the result of six years of meticulous work following the reopened investigation. Prosecutors stressed that time does not prevent justice, even in decades-old cases.
Suffolk Police said Victoria’s family had waited more than 26 years for accountability and expressed relief that they were spared the ordeal of a full trial.
A Sixth Victim Confirmed
The admission formally confirms Victoria Hall as Steve Wright’s sixth murder victim. Prosecutors had previously highlighted similarities between her killing and the later Ipswich murders, including the method and locations where victims were left.
Wright remains imprisoned at HMP Long Lartin and will be sentenced for the latest convictions later this week.
What Happens Next
Legal experts say Wright’s sentence is unlikely to change significantly due to his existing whole-life order. However, the guilty plea provides long-overdue closure for Victoria Hall’s family and cements Wright’s place among the UK’s most notorious serial killers.
FAQ
Who is Steve Wright?
Steve Wright is a British serial killer convicted of murdering five women in Suffolk in 2006 and now admits to a sixth murder committed in 1999.
Who was Victoria Hall?
Victoria Hall was a 17-year-old student from Suffolk who disappeared after a night out in 1999 and was later found murdered.
Why did Steve Wright plead guilty now?
Wright changed his plea moments before trial. Prosecutors say the case against him had been strengthened following a long-running reopened investigation.
How many people did Steve Wright kill?
Steve Wright has now admitted to six murders—five in 2006 and one in 1999.
Is Steve Wright already in prison?
Yes. He is serving a whole-life sentence, meaning he will never be released.
Will his sentence change after this admission?
The sentence length is unlikely to change, but the conviction delivers justice and closure for Victoria Hall’s family.