The mother of Michelle Crossley, who was murdered in her house on the Falmouth to Helston road, has said she has been left “sorely disappointed” in the justice system.

Mrs Crossley was found battered to death at Higher Carnebone Farm, Laity, and 49-year-old Gary Chadwick has been convicted of her murder. Chadwick's stepson, 23-year-old, Adam Jinks appeared at Truro Crown Court last week, where he was formally acquitted of her murder but pleaded guilty of assisting in her murder, by removing from the scene and disposing of a rolling pin, hammer, two knives, a wine bottle, glass and a telephone.

He was given a two-year jail sentence but walked free from court after already being in custody for 386 days awaiting trial.

Today, Mrs Crossley’s mother, Ann Durkin, issued a statement through the police saying: “Thirteen months ago my lovely daughter Michelle was the victim of a brutal and prolonged murderous attack. Nothing said or done will ever bring her back. But I came here to see justice done. I have been sorely disappointed.

“One man Adam Jinks watched while the murder took place, he helped dispose of the murder weapons and walked free without having to face a jury or even having the public hear the sickening evidence. Surely this was wrong.

“No sentence given to Gary Chadwick will ever be long enough, no punishment too severe.”

She added that she, together with her two other daughters Amanda and Paula, would have to live with what had happened for the rest of their lives, concluding: “For Michelle to have been taken away from us so brutally, and at only 39 years old, is a tragic loss for us all.”