Mother and children admit involvement in murder of man in Aberdeenshire

A 44-year-old woman has admitted murdering her partner in an Aberdeenshire town.

Sharon Hollinsworth pled guilty to murdering Andrew Oates in Peterhead, at the High Court in Aberdeen on Tuesday morning. She repeatedly attacked the 44-year-old on the head and body with a hammer on October 22, 2010.

His body was discovered in the bedroom of their home after the hotel manager confessed to police that she had killed him two days later.

She also admitted conspiracy to murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Her children, 19-year-old Christopher Hollinsworth, and Natalie Hollinsworth, 22, have admitted conspiracy to murder.

The court heard police were instructed to go to the family home on the town's Fairwinds Place and discovered Mr Oates' body under a duvet with cable ties on his wrists. Splatters of blood were visible on the upstairs landing wall and on the floor.

Pathologists believed he had suffered at least 20 blows to the head and all the injuries were consistent with the use of a hammer. The blood-stained hammer was discovered in the family home.

Sharon Hollinsworth gave a description of her life with her "violent" partner when she confessed the murder to police, claiming he was unpredictable and suffered mood swings.

All three were denied bail and will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 28.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Dunn, who led the enquiry, said: "This was a calculated and premeditated murder which has had a devastating impact on so many lives and has torn a family apart.

"This was a violent and sustained attack which was compounded by the great lengths those involved went to in the aftermath of Andrew's death to conceal the killing and to escape justice.

"They will now have to live with the consequences of what they have been done for the rest of their lives.

"Today's outcome will not bring Andrew back but it does spare his family the ordeal of having to sit through a trial. I hope it will also allow them a degree of closure and the opportunity to move on with their lives after all they have been through."

He added: "This was an extensive and challenging investigation and today's outcome is due, in no small part, to the dedication and professionalism of the enquiry team."

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