Burglar who battered elderly woman to death carried out eight 'reconnaissance missions' and lay in wait for two hours before launching 'merciless' attack, court hears
- 2 years ago
A burglar accused of battering an elderly woman to death and leaving her husband fighting for his life is caught on CCTV carrying out 'reconnaissance missions' of their property before launching his 'merciless attack'.
Vasile Culea, 34, is said to have subjecting Freda Walker, 86, and her husband Ken, 88, to a ‘brutal, sustained and savage' assault at their home on January 14 this year.
A court heard the elderly couple were both 'severely beaten' before being 'bound, hog-tied, gagged and left to their fate' in an attack 'devoid of mercy'.
Culea forced his way into the house in Langwith Junction, Derbys., in the hunt for £30,000 the OAPs had hidden at their home of 60 years, jurors were told.
Mr Walker, a former district council chairman, was found critically injured after a horrified neighbour discovered Freda's body in a pool of blood in the kitchen.
The charity worker had been 'battered to death' and she was found gagged with plastic bags and a pillowcase over her head.
Mr Walker, a retired electrician who had worked in the mining industry, was found bound at the knees under the dining room table also covered in blood.
He survived the attack but has since passed away from natural causes.
Culea was arrested at his home in Church Warsop, Notts, five days after the break-in following a police manhunt.
He denies the murder of Mrs Walker, the attempted murder of Mr Walker and also pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Walker.
Culea has admitted the manslaughter of the retired seamstress and inflicting GBH on her husband.
On the second day of his trial at Derby Crown Court yesterday (Wed), the jury were shown a timeline of events with CCTV tracking Culea’s movement on the day of the attack.
Jurors were told he carried out a number of 'reconnaissance missions' both in his Audi car and on foot and may have lay in wait for two hours before gaining access.
It was said he may have managed to get in at around 7.30pm when Mrs Walker opened her back door to let the couple's cat in after she watched an episode of Emmerdale.
CCTV footage showed Culea entering several betting shops in Shirebrook and Mansfield on the morning of the attack before making his way to the couple’s home.
He vanished from view of cameras at 17.29 before re-emerging over three hours later at 20.48 on the alleyway behind the late couple's home.
Prosecutor Michael Auty took the jury through images of the crime scene before detailing the movements of Culea.
Vasile Culea, 34, is said to have subjecting Freda Walker, 86, and her husband Ken, 88, to a ‘brutal, sustained and savage' assault at their home on January 14 this year.
A court heard the elderly couple were both 'severely beaten' before being 'bound, hog-tied, gagged and left to their fate' in an attack 'devoid of mercy'.
Culea forced his way into the house in Langwith Junction, Derbys., in the hunt for £30,000 the OAPs had hidden at their home of 60 years, jurors were told.
Mr Walker, a former district council chairman, was found critically injured after a horrified neighbour discovered Freda's body in a pool of blood in the kitchen.
The charity worker had been 'battered to death' and she was found gagged with plastic bags and a pillowcase over her head.
Mr Walker, a retired electrician who had worked in the mining industry, was found bound at the knees under the dining room table also covered in blood.
He survived the attack but has since passed away from natural causes.
Culea was arrested at his home in Church Warsop, Notts, five days after the break-in following a police manhunt.
He denies the murder of Mrs Walker, the attempted murder of Mr Walker and also pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Walker.
Culea has admitted the manslaughter of the retired seamstress and inflicting GBH on her husband.
On the second day of his trial at Derby Crown Court yesterday (Wed), the jury were shown a timeline of events with CCTV tracking Culea’s movement on the day of the attack.
Jurors were told he carried out a number of 'reconnaissance missions' both in his Audi car and on foot and may have lay in wait for two hours before gaining access.
It was said he may have managed to get in at around 7.30pm when Mrs Walker opened her back door to let the couple's cat in after she watched an episode of Emmerdale.
CCTV footage showed Culea entering several betting shops in Shirebrook and Mansfield on the morning of the attack before making his way to the couple’s home.
He vanished from view of cameras at 17.29 before re-emerging over three hours later at 20.48 on the alleyway behind the late couple's home.
Prosecutor Michael Auty took the jury through images of the crime scene before detailing the movements of Culea.