Pictured, newlywed teacher beaten to death in the street with her neighbour
A NEWLY married primary school teacher has been named as the second victim of a horrific double murder which rocked a village.
Amy Appleton, 32, was battered to death in the street outside her home alongside neighbour Sandra Seagrave, 76, who bravely tried to come to her aid on Sunday morning.
A man who was found in the house in Crawley Down, Sussex, with serious injuries – believed to be self-inflicted – was arrested on suspicion of the murders.
The man, who police say was known to Mrs Appleton, remains in hospital in a ‘very unstable condition’ under police guard.
Mrs Appleton was believed to have tried to escape after neighbours reported hearing shouting and swearing and a man screaming ‘I’m going to kill you’ shortly after 10am.
Widow Mrs Seagrave, who was passing on her morning walk, is believed to have been attacked with her own walking stick after she tried to protect the younger woman.
The semi-detached property was jointly owned by Mrs Appleton and her husband
Daniel, 37, who runs a specialist car engineering company. The couple, who had been together for more than ten years, married last year in a picturesque ceremony at the exclusive wedding venue Morden Hall in south London.
Tributes to the women were paid as forensics officers examined the couple’s home over Christmas. A candle with the message ‘RIP Sandy XX’ was placed among the collection of flowers, while a red rose had been drawn on the front of a handmade condolence card marked Amy.
It read: ‘To Amy, rest in peace. You were such a lovely neighbour to us and the rest of the village.’
Another card said: ‘A beautiful lady. Taken far too soon. So many fond memories of Amy growing up and blossoming into a fine young lady.’
Mrs Appleton worked as a Year 6 and safeguarding teacher at the Copthorne Church of England school near her home.
Parishioners at St John’s Church, Copthorne, which is aligned with the school, have also told of their sadness at her tragic death. One said: ‘We are all heartbroken about what happened to Amy. She was such a lovely woman and a brilliant teacher.’
Another said: ‘Amy was such a lovely person. She loved getting involved in local stuff. She loved being part of the community, particularly the church and school.’
Mrs Seagrave’s brother, Dan
Peckett, 84, said: ‘I’m going to miss her so much. I adored her.’
Mr Peckett’s son Michael, 60, said Mrs Seagrave had tried to help Mrs Appleton as she was being attacked.
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘This is a terrible scene – and so near Christmas.
This is normally such a quiet place, nothing nasty ever happens here. We are just a nice ordinary estate with no trouble.
‘Everyone is really struggling to come to terms with what has happened. The paramedics were here really quickly and were brilliant but sadly there was nothing they could do.’ Residents near the scene turned off their Christmas lights as a mark of respect.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Geldart, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, who is leading the inquiry, said: ‘This is a tragic incident which has led to the deaths of two local women, one of whom was known to the suspect.
‘Members of the public, police and paramedics did all they could to help the victims but sadly the two women died at the scene.’
‘A beautiful lady taken far too soon’