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15 years for woman who murdered British widow, 80, in Elche
The elderly victim was shot three times, once in the head, over a suspected real estate deal gone bad
A court in Alicante has sentenced a woman to 15 years behind bars for the brutal murder of an 80-year-old British widow in her Elche home in 2022. The defendant’s minor son was also arrested for his part in the crime, but he died in a car accident just one day before his hearing was scheduled.
The victim, Monica Warren, was shot three times, including once in the head at close range, in a crime that shocked the close-knit community.
The defendant, a 34-year-old real estate agent from Alicante, had shown up at Warren's home in the Torre Azul urbanisation in the Maitino area of Elche and ended her life in a brutal and ruthless attack.
The motive for the crime has never been established and the accused has refused to comment aside from admitting guilt, although it’s now believed to have been related to a real estate business deal gone sour.
At the trial, however, the defendant finally broke her silence, claiming that she didn’t know why she committed the murder. She added that she felt like she had lost her mind and may have had a psychotic break, although she’s never been diagnosed with a mental illness.
The defendant tried to clean up the crime scene and remove evidence, including getting rid of the murder weapon and burning the car she had used to travel to the victim's home.
The prosecution had initially requested a 25-year sentence, but the judge reduced it to 15 years due to the defendant's late confession and collaboration with the authorities. The defence attorney, on the other hand, asked for just 12-and-a-half years, citing mitigating circumstances.
The verdict was unanimous, with the popular jury finding the defendant guilty of a crime of murder with treachery and another of damages.
The sentence is not final, and an appeal can be made against it before the Superior Court of Justice of the Community. The victim's relatives will also be eligible for compensation, which will be determined at a later date.
Image: Policia Nacional
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