Stuart Hazell pleads GUILTY to the murder of Tia Sharp
Guilty ... Stuart Hazell admitted murdering Tia Sharp
Dan Jones
THE man on trial for the murder of schoolgirl Tia Sharp dramatically changed his plea to GUILTY today.
The Old Bailey heard Stuart Hazell has abandoned his claim the 12-year-old died in an accident.There were gasps and cries from Tia's family in the public gallery as his change of plea was revealed to the court.
Hazell's defence barrister asked for the charge to be put to him again on the fifth day of his trail.
The window cleaner bowed his head in the dock and paused before quietly croaking: "Guilty".
The jury was then asked to formally find him guilty.
Twisted Hazell, 37, now faces life in jail for sexually assaulting and murdering innocent Tia — his girlfriend's granddaughter — and hiding her body in the loft.
Victim ... Tia Sharp
The court heard how Hazell developed a secret lust for the youngster, who often stayed at the home Hazell shared with Tia's gran Christine Bicknell.
The jury were shown a grotesque photo Hazell took of Tia's naked corpse after posing her on all fours on her bloodstained bed.
He had also covertly videoed her sleeping in the weeks before he murdered her.
The footage was found on memory cards along with a hoard of obscene internet images of young girls — who resembled Tia — performing sex acts.
Hazell's defence was to claim Tia broke her neck falling down the stairs while playing at Christine's home in New Addington, near Croydon, South London.
But a pathologist said there was no sign of a broken neck and she was probably smothered.
Forensic evidence also revealed his semen on her bed and clothing and her blood on his belt.
Her blood was also on a sex toy and a jacket he stashed in the loft along with her body in the early hours of August 3 last year.
Today Hazell's QC, Lord Carlisle, said his client wanted to make it known that “Tia’s family have suffered enough and he did not want to put them through any further stages of this trial or this process”.
Tia's natural father Steve Carter broke down weeping as Hazell changed his plea.
Mr Justice Nicol is due to sentence Hazell later today.
Lying Hazell played the part of doting step-grandad after reporting Tia missing on August 3.
He claimed she had gone shopping, and joined friends and neighbours on a huge search of the area.
Dozens of police were also involved in the week-long hunt for missing child.
Hazell even appealed for her to come home in TV interview — all the while knowing he had wrapped her body in a sheet and bin bags and hidden the parcel in the loft.
Cops believe the monster planned to move the corpse later but was foiled when the house was besieged by press and TV news crews.
Tia's body was finally found on August 10 after two police searches failed to find her.
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