Guilty verdict for 1994 murder of Rikki Neave ends 27-year mystery

James Watson found guilty at Old Bailey, ending suspicion that six-year-old victim's abusive mother was killer

In October 1996, Ruth Neave collapsed in tears in the dock of Northampton crown court when a jury acquitted her of the murder of her six-year-old son, Rikki Neave.

Afterwards, many found the verdict hard to accept when it emerged she had pleaded guilty to series of child cruelty offences against the schoolboy and two of his siblings.