Nikitta Grender: Carl Whant jailed for 35 years for murdering pregnant teenager

A former nightclub bouncer has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years for murdering a pregnant teenager two weeks before she was due to give birth.

Carl Whant, 27, of Bettws, Newport, raped and stabbed 19-year-old Nikitta Grender at her home, killing her unborn daughter at the same time.

He set fire to her flat before returning to a party where he had been all night with her boyfriend.

Whant was convicted of murder, rape, child destruction and arson.

Ms Grender had already named her baby girl Kelsey-May.

Outside Newport Crown Court after the verdict, the victim's uncle, Michael Brunnock, said in a statement:

"The last 12 months have been harder for us than you could ever imagine.         More Read