A gambling addict who tied up and brutally assaulted a pensioner has been jailed for more than three decades. Vasile Culea admitted he had broken into Kenneth and Freda Walker’s Station Road home in Langwith Junction on Friday, January 14, 2022.
He had heard the couple had a significant amount of money in the home they had shared for more than 60 years. But when the couple either could not, or would not, give Culea the money, he brutally assaulted them. The pair were unable to fight back after he had bound their hands and feet and even placed bags over Freda’s head.
He was seen on CCTV to calmly walk away from the couple’s house where he had left Freda fatally wounded – and Kenneth fighting for his life. The couple were found the following morning by a concerned neighbour. Freda was dead and Kenneth was in a critical condition. Culea’s DNA was found on a cap in the Walker’s house – and officers arrested the 34-year-old on Thursday, January 20, at his home in Church Warsop.
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Following his arrest detectives tracked his movements on Friday, January 14, with footage showing Culea scoping out Freda and Kenneth’s home throughout the afternoon. The case built by the detectives in the Major Crime Unit meant that Culea had no other choice to admit his presence in the house – but he denied he intended to kill the couple.
The jury of 11 men and one woman sitting at Derby Crown Court did not believe him, finding him guilty of Freda’s murder. On the charge of the attempted murder of Kenneth the jury found him not guilty – but did find him guilty of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent.
On Friday (October 28) Culea was sentenced to 34 years’ imprisonment. Mr Justice Andrew Henshaw sentenced Culea, of Grove Road, Church Warsop, to a life sentence for the murder of Mrs Walker and a "concurrent" 14 years behind bars for the grievous bodily harm with intent of Mr Walker. It means he must serve a minimum of 34 years behind bars before he can apply for parole.
The judge said: "On January 14, 2022, you entered the home of the well-loved and respected elderly couple, Kenneth and Freda Walker, in order to steal money from them. Freda was 86 and Kenneth was 88.
"In furtherance of that plan, you brutally attacked them both, leaving them with brain injuries, lacerations and many other injuries. Freda Walker died within an hour of this brutal attack. Kenneth Walker, having previously been independent, became dependent on nurses for all of his needs.
"The burglary, but not the murder of Mrs Walker, was planned and pre-meditated. The murder itself was not pre-meditated. I have given anxious consideration to whether, in the circumstances, you intended to kill Freda Walker. The evidence was that the wrappings, over time, would likely have been enough to cause Freda's death.
"It is said on your behalf that if you intended Freda's death, you would have made sure of it. The Crown submits that you must have been callously indifferent to whether she lived or died. I consider that that way of putting it is accurate."
Temporary Detective Inspector Carolyne Van Schaick, who helped lead the investigation, said: “While today’s sentencing can never reverse Culea’s actions I hope it provides some degree of closure for Freda and Ken’s family and friends.
“His actions have devastated an entire community and, while Ken may have survived the attack, he had lost his wife and lived out his remaining days requiring constant care before he sadly passed away shortly before this case was due to be heard.
“I would like to once again thank the family of both Ken and Freda who have shown immense courage throughout what has been such a difficult time, as well as the community of Shirebrook who have supported each other, and this investigation, throughout.”
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