Murderer who strangled young mum to death celebrates release from prison on Facebook 

Former taxi driver Merrick Rogers, 40, 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

Murderer: Merrick Rogers posed with pints to celebrate his prison release

 

 

A convicted murderer who strangled a young mum to death with her own jumper has taken to Facebook to celebrate his release from jail. 

Former taxi driver Merrick Rogers, 40, 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 - described as a 'dangerous young man' when jailed in 2000 - also took to Twitter.
 

 

Victim: Young mum Claire Streader was strangled to death

 

He 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."
Rogers, of Sittingbourne, Kent, was jailed for sexually assaulting and strangling Claire whose body was later found dumped in a park in Canterbury, Kent.
He has always maintained his innocence.

The photos emerged only two weeks after Miss Streader's father Peter died aged 72.
Speaking after Roger's release earlier this year, Mr Streader said: "He took Claire's life and now has a new one ahead of him.

 

Murder scene: The victim's family said life should mean life

"Life should have meant life, but there is nothing I can do about it."
Read more: Family's fears as double murderer who knifed young couple 90 times is freed from jail
Earlier today Claire's son Ben, 24, declined to comment on the pictures.
Rogers declined to comment but his father Colin said: "I never looked at Merrick other than as an innocent and unfortunate person.

 

Jailed: Merrick Rogers was convicted for the murder of Claire Streader, Canterbury in 2000

"He's served virtually 16 years and should be allowed to get on with his life."
Miss Streader's body was found dumped in a bush the night after she and Rogers had been drinking together in the Canterbury city centre in May 1999.
He has always maintained his innocence but a jury disagreed and found him guilty of her murder following a trial.

 

Heartbroken: Pete Streader died shortly before the pictures were released

A judge jailed him 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.
He admitted to being with her on the night but said they parted ways and he went for a drink alone.
This was rejected by the jury after his saliva was found on Miss Streader's breast and bra.