A long-term resident of the street on the Nottinghamshire border where an elderly woman was brutally murdered says he didn't expect her killer to be picked up on his security camera. A jury in the trial of Vasile Culea at Derby Crown Court has found him guilty of murdering Freda Walker, but cleared him of the attempted murder of her husband Ken.
The trial heard that 34-year-old Culea sneaked into the Walkers' home on Station Road in Langwith Junction, Shirebrook, to steal £30,000 in cash that he heard was hidden at the property. He assaulted the couple, tied them up and put a bag over the head of Mrs Walker.
Mrs Walker, 86, was pronounced dead at the scene after being found by a concerned neighbour on January 15. Mr Walker, 88, suffered serious injuries in the incident. He died died several months later, with his death listed as being of as natural causes. Following the jury's guilty verdict on Tuesday (October 25), Culea will now be sentenced on Friday.
