The man accused of killing 12-year-old Tia Sharp has dramatically changed his plea and admitted murdering her.
Stuart Hazell originally denied killing the schoolgirl and hiding her body in the loft of the home he shared with her grandmother in New Addington, south London.
The 37-year-old, who also denied sexually assaulting the youngster, claimed she had died accidentally falling down the stairs.
There were gasps from the public gallery and Tia's father broke down in tears as Hazell changed his plea to guilty.
Tia's body was found in the loft of her grandmother's home in south London
Lord Carlile, defending, said Hazell wanted to make it known that "Tia's family have suffered enough and he did not want to put them through any further stages of this trial or this process".
Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt, at the Old Bailey, said: "The charge was read again to Hazell - a charge he had denied at the start of last week.
"There was some hesitation when he was asked to plead but eventually, after two or three seconds, he said the word, 'guilty'.
"That prompted cries and gasps from the public gallery where Tia's mother and grandmother were sitting. There was surprise also from Tia's father."
"They clearly weren't expecting this very dramatic turn of events," he added.
Hazell and Tia were caught on CCTV at a supermarket hours before her murder
Tia's body, which the prosecution said was "carefully wrapped" in a sheet and bin bags, was found a week after she went missing in August last year.
Jurors were told Hazell's semen was found on her bed and on her night clothes, while her blood was found on the belt Hazell was wearing when he was arrested.
Tia's disappearance sparked searches by police and members of the public but her body was missed during initial searches of the loft.
Hazell joined the search and, in a television interview played to the jury, claimed he was "playing the role of bereaved grandparent".
CCTV caught Hazell buying vodka after murdering 12-year-old Tia
The change of plea comes after four days of graphic evidence during which Tia's mother, Natalie Sharp, frequently had to leave the courtroom, visibly distressed.
The prosecution case included a photograph of a girl alleged to be Tia after she died.
During the trial, the jury was shown a letter Hazell wrote from Belmarsh Prison to his father, begging for forgiveness.
In it, he said he was not a "bad person" and added: "One mistake and my whole world has collapsed. My fault, I know."
Judge Mr Justice Nicol is expected to sentence Hazell later today.
I've heard that on another site- waiting for the news (official)
