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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Rebecca Sherdley

Police footage showing arrest of Vasile Culea who killed pensioner Freda Walker in Langwith Junction

This is the moment police forced their way into a property, loudly battering in the door, to arrest Langwith Junction murderer Vasile Culea. A woman could be heard screaming in the background as burly officers, in helmets, visors and protective gear could be made out in the darkness, after 1.30am on January 20 this year, making their way up the stairs calling out, "Police, police, stay where you are".

On the footage, released today by Derbyshire Constabulary, Culea, of Grove Road, Church Warsop, dived face down onto a crumpled black duvet on a bed at the sight of officers who recorded the killer's arrest after he savagely attacked elderly couple Ken and Freda Walker in their own home in Station Road, Langwith Junction. Culea was cuffed by one officer with his hands behind his back and asked his name.

He identified himself by "Vasile" as he was taken off the bed and into a police van with a cage inside, where he sat with his legs by his side in casual clothes, as he was told why he was being arrested - on suspicion of the murder of Freda Walker from the 14-15th of January and the attempted murder of Kenneth Walker.

READ MORE: Gambling and rent debt drove killer to attack and tie up elderly couple

On Tuesday (October 24), a jury took just over two hours to unanimously convict Culea, 34, of the murder of Freda Walker but they cleared him of the attempted murder of her husband Ken. Both victims were in their 80s.

Swabs taken from a cap found inside the Walker’s home returned a positive DNA hit for one Vasile Culea (Derbyshire Police)

The couple were married for more than 60 years. A jury at Derby Crown Court had heard how Culea knew Ken and Freda Walker had £30,000 hidden in bundles around their homes and so "plotted and planned" how to get his hands on it.

Freda Walker with her husband Ken Walker (PA)

But once inside their property - he beat both of the pensioners so badly 86-year-old Mrs Walker was found dead in a pool of blood in the kitchen. Mr Walker, 88, was beaten unconscious. His back was broken, and his wrists and knees tied, when he was found on the dining room floor.

Freda was killed, Kenneth, a Shirebrook Town councillor, survived. He has since passed away - but the court heard that's not connected to what happened in their home.

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