34 years’ jail for murderer who tortured couple
A “SAVAGE” gambling addict has been jailed for at least 34 years after beating, tying up and murdering an elderly woman in her home.
Vasile Culea, 34, had visited four betting shops before raiding the home of couple Freda, 86, and Kenneth Walker, 88, on January 14.
The Romanian national claimed he had overheard in “a food shop” of a “wealthy house” in the village of Langwith Junction, Derbyshire, owned by retired seamstress Mrs Walker and her husband, and that they had withdrawn £30,000 in cash for home renovations.
Culea, who was £11,000 in debt due to his gambling, broke in and pounced on the pair. He beat them both before “hog-tying” them by binding their hands and feet, applying head and neck restraints to Mrs Walker. He then left them to die.
Retired alderman and district councillor Mr Walker narrowly survived the ordeal after being found the next morning, but he has since died from cancer.
Vulnerable
Yesterday, the intruder was convicted of Mrs Walker’s murder and of wounding MrWalker with intent.
Culea, of Church Warsop, Notts, was jailed for life with a minimum of 34 years.
Judge Mr Justice Henshaw told him: “You attacked them both, leaving them with brain injuries, lacerations and many other injuries.
“Very sadly, Freda Walker died within an hour or so of this savage attack.The murder was aggravated by the fact that she was particularly vulnerable because of her age.
“You saw, before you entered the house, that the Walkers were elderly.
“It was also aggravated by your applying of tight restraints and head and neck wrappings for Freda Walker, failing to release her before you left and making no attempt to help her afterwards – for example, by making an anonymous call.”
The prosecution suggested Culea tortured Mrs Walker to make Mr Walker reveal where the money was hidden, and that he became increasingly frustrated when Mr Walker could not remember where it was.
The couple were found by a concerned neighbour, who discovered Mrs Walker dead in a pool of her own blood, with multiple injuries to her head, face, limbs and torso.
Mr Walker never returned home and died in hospital on August 29.