Murderer Who Strangled Young Mother To Death Takes To Facebook To Celebrate Release From Prison As He Posts A Photo Of Himself Smiling And Clutching Pint Of Guinness

A murderer who killed a young mother by strangling her, has taken to Facebook to celebrate his release from prison, smiling and clutching a pint of Guinness. The former taxi driver, Merrick Rogers, 40, from Sittingbourne, Kent, posted a photo of himself smiling and clutching a pint of Guinness after serving 15 years for the murder of Claire Streader, 24, in 1999. Rogers did not just limit his celebrations by posting on Facebook alone, he also took to Twitter to celebrate. Rogers who was described as a ‘dangerous young man’ when jailed in 2000 wrote: “life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to” and “suck it up and make the most of every situation, no matter how bad it seems.”

The murderer who has always maintained his innocence, was jailed for sexually assaulting and strangling Claire whose body was later found dumped in a park in Canterbury, Kent. Rogers and Claire had been drinking together in the Canterbury city centre in May 1999. The photos were said to have emerged two weeks after Miss Streader’s father Peter died aged 72. Mr Streader speaking after Roger’s release earlier this year, said: “He took Claire’s life and now has a new one ahead of him. “Life should have meant life, but there is nothing I can do about it.”

Claire’s son Ben, 24, declined to comment on the pictures while the murderer’s father said: “I never looked at Merrick other than as an innocent and unfortunate person. “He’s served virtually 16 years and should be allowed to get on with his life.”

Rogers was jailed for life with a minimum 14 year team, which was later reduced to 12-and-a-half years on appeal. An appeal against his conviction was rejected in 2006. The jury rejected his story after his saliva was found on Miss Streader’s breast and bra.