Murderer who stabbed friend and attacked two other people must go to prison for at least 36 years

A drug-addicted construction worker who murdered Glenna Siviter has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 36 years.

Andrew Hall, 47, stabbed his long-term girlfriend 36 times, in the heart, lungs, neck and through the arm, after turning up at the grandmother’s home in Middlesbrough at 3am on Monday, December 11 last year.

He hid Mrs Siviter’s body under her sofa, where it lay for four days until her son Declan discovered it.

Hall stole Ms Siviter’s jewellery, which he then sold for drugs, before stabbing his acquaintance Sam Harker to death as he slept in his bed. Two days later, on December 15, he repeatedly stabbed Craig Woodier as the two men sat in Mr Woodier’s car outside his home in Laycock Street, Middlesbrough.

During the trial, it was revealed that Hall had sold Ms Siviter’s jewellery, which she had inherited from her mother, to Mr Woodier in exchange for crack cocaine. Mr Woodier told the court he initially thought Hall was going to tap him on the shoulder when they returned from the pharmacy to pick up Mr Woodier’s methadone prescription.

But Hall launched a furious attack with two knives. Woodier managed to use his elbow to honk the horn of his car, whereupon his wife Donna ran outside and dragged him out of the car.

Hall then encountered Sam Harker and the jury was told the two were taking drugs together before Hall, according to Harker, broke into his house. Hall was sleeping on the sofa before attacking the second man in his bed as he slept. The former boxer was able to push Hall out of his room.

On Thursday afternoon, the jury returned its verdict at Newcastle Crown Court after deliberating for just over six hours. Hall, 47, was found guilty of the murder of Glenna Siviter and the attempted murder of Craig Woodier. Hall was found not guilty of the attempted murder of Sam Harker, but was instead charged with the less serious offence of wounding with intent.

A short time later he was sentenced by Judge Nicholas Lavender.

Ms Siviter’s family sat in the public gallery, as they did throughout the trial. The court heard that by November last year, before he murdered Ms Siviter, Hall had already committed 74 offences. Hall began offending in 1989 when he committed burglaries. In 1994 he was convicted of two robberies and grievous bodily harm, and in 2012 he faced trial again for possessing a knife in a public place.

The judge told him: “Over the course of five days, you attacked three of your acquaintances without cause, each time inflicting numerous wounds on them with one or more knives. You killed Ms Siviter in her living room, you attacked Mr Harker as he lay in bed and you attacked Mr Woodier in his car right outside his house.”

“There was no apparent motive for these attacks, although I am sure the drugs you were taking played a significant role in your behaviour.

“Declan Siviter said you robbed his children of their grandmother and left him feeling empty and heartbroken. Your crime has changed Craig Woodier’s life so much that he no longer wants to leave the house.

“For the murder of Ms. Siviter, I must impose a life sentence. I must set the minimum sentence – that is the minimum time you must spend in custody before the parole board can consider your release. If you are released, you will be on parole for the rest of your life.

“You murdered Mrs Siviter in her home. You used excessive force and inflicted over 30 stab wounds on her. She must have suffered.”

“You stabbed Mr Harker and attempted to murder Mr Woodier, inflicting four wounds to his head with a knife.”

Hall, of Thorntree Avenue, Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years. Time spent in custody will be deducted from his sentence, so he will effectively serve a minimum term of 35 years and 171 days.

After the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Carr of Cleveland Police’s HMET (Homicide and Major Enquiry Team) said: “Glenna’s body, who was a defenceless woman, was found by her son, which must have been extremely traumatic for him.

“She had suffered multiple stab wounds in a violent and sustained attack. Evidence recovered during the investigation indicated that the motive for the murder was theft, with Hall stealing and selling her jewelry.

“While Glenna’s body remained undiscovered for five days, Hall went about his daily business. During this time, however, he severely assaulted two of his accomplices, Samuel Harker and Craig Woodier. Woodier suffered serious injuries and this incident led police to identify Hall as a suspect in Glenna’s murder.

“I would like to thank the witnesses who have given evidence in this case. I would also like to thank Samuel Harker and Craig Woodier for their courage in coming to court and reliving their ordeals as witnesses.

“We have offered our support to Glenna’s family throughout this difficult and complex investigation. Because of Hall’s denials, they have had to listen to the horrific evidence in this case and learn how Glenna was murdered in the family home. They have shown great courage and dignity throughout the investigation and most recently during the trial.

“I welcome the sentence imposed today. Hall will now spend a significant amount of time in prison and while this cannot bring Glenna back to her loved ones, I hope it will provide some measure of comfort to her family.”