Trial and Convictions
In November 2008, the BBC reported that the trial heard evidence that Shannon Matthews had been drugged to subdue her whilst held. Newspapers reported that "The jury was told Shannon was drugged and restrained with a strap tied to a roof beam after her mother hatched a plan to make £50,000 from her faked kidnap." The jury was told Shannon was kept locked in a flat for 24 days by Michael Donovan, who police believe used an elasticated strap with a noose on the end to tether her when he went out."
On 13 November, Detective Constable Mark Cruddace and Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan gave evidence at Leeds Crown Court. A forensic toxicologist told the court that tests on Matthews's hair indicated she had been given temazepam for up to 20 months prior to her disappearance.
Michael Donovan claimed that Karen Matthews had asked him to look after her daughter for several days and that they would make money from newspaper rewards. He told the court that she had threatened him with violence.
On 27 November Karen Matthews gave evidence. Sobbing throughout, she denied having anything to do with her daughter's disappearance, claiming that Craig Meehan told her to 'take the blame' for what had happened. She said she did so because she was scared of him.
In cross-examination, Julian Goose QC said that she had told police a total of five versions of the story and accused her of "telling lie after lie, after lie".
On 4 December 2008 Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. The plan had been for Donovan to release Shannon Matthews at Dewsbury Market, drive around the corner to 'discover her' then take her to a police station and claim the £50,000 reward. This would then be split between Donovan and Karen. On 23 January 2009, both were sentenced to eight years in prison. Karen Matthews was released in April 2012 after serving half her sentence. Donovan had already been released. Matthews was given a new name for use in public, though authorities did not consider her mentally capable of maintaining a fully new identity, so she will retain her real name for engagement with officials.
Read more about this topic: Kidnapping Of Shannon Matthews
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