Murder case stalled by Facebook password
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a 13-year-old girl have been forced to apply to the US courts after the main suspect in the case refused to hand over his Facebook password.
Stephen Nicholson, a former tattoo artist, who was arrested in July in connection with the murder of Lucy Mchugh, was yesterday jailed for 14 months for refusing to divulge his Facebook details. Southampton Crown Court heard that the murder inquiry had been delayed and frustrated as de- tectives were unable to access his Facebook account. The media giant has not handed over the password and Hampshire Police must appeal to the US Department of Justice in a bid to access potentially crucial evidence.
Nicholson was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child after the girl’s body was found in woodland a month ago. She had been stabbed to death. He was a family friend who had been staying at their house when Lucy disappeared.
The 24-year-old admitted to police he had been in contact with the teenager on Facebook on the day she disappeared, but would not let officers see the messages. The court was told he had claimed police would find information relating to cannabis on his Facebook timeline. Matthew Lawson, prosecuting, said Nicholson had still not provided his Facebook password, forcing police to apply to US courts for permission to gain access to the account.
He said: “The result is that police are now having to make inquiries with Facebook. These present a difficulty as they have to go through a lengthy procedure. The police investigation has been considerably obstructed by the defendant’s failure to comply.”
A police spokesman confirmed that they had exhausted all options through the British legal system to access Nicholson’s account. “There is no further legislation available to assist with this matter,” he said.
Nicholson, a father of one, was charged under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and admitted failing to cooperate with police.
Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Parker told him: “Your refusal was considered and it was deliberate; you were fully aware of the significance of your refusal. The excuse you put forward was, and remains, wholly inadequate when compared to the urgent need for the password to be provided.
“What you have done is obstruct a very serious investigation and cause a very significant delay.”
Nicholson appeared in court via video link from Winchester Prison and spoke only to confirm his particulars and admit the charge. He was first arrested by Hampshire Police on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child and remains on bail for those allegations. A charging decision on those matters is anticipated on Oct 27.