Brutal NW10 Murder: Vulnerable Pensioner Mowed Down After Months of Abuse
Xyaire Howard, 23, from Press Road, NW10, has been found guilty of murdering 71-year-old Susan Hawkey after a chilling Old Bailey trial. His partner in crime, 28-year-old Chelsea Grant, also from Press Road, was cleared of murder but admitted to multiple robberies targeting Hawkey.
Weeks of Terror for Pensioner Susan Hawkey
The pair terrorised Susan for weeks, zeroing in on the vulnerable pensioner living nearby. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson called the killing a “brutal act” following a harrowing campaign of violence and abuse. Both culprits have now been brought to justice.
Relentless Attacks and Ruthless Robberies
Susan, who lived a quiet, isolated life, was repeatedly mugged during her rare trips outside in July and August 2022. Despite cancelling her bank card after the first attack, Howard and Grant managed to snatch her card and house keys in a violent assault on Verney Road on August 22.
The following day, they raided her home but were met with resistance. Although she never went to the police, Susan cancelled her card, changed her locks, and warned neighbours – desperate to stop the nightmare.
Fatal End and Lavish Spend Spree
The last time Susan was seen alive was September 6. Worried neighbours raised alarm weeks later, leading police to find her body on September 26. She was discovered tied up in a fetal position with shoelaces and parcel tape.
Howard and Grant had been seen roaming her home area that day. They grabbed her PIN and went on a lavish spending spree, splashing thousands before their arrest outside a Wembley McDonald’s on September 28.
Shocking Evidence Uncovered
- Photos of Susan’s ATM cards found on suspects’ phones
- Searches about ATM transaction limits and the “smell of dead bodies”
Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles lamented the “heart-breaking” case, condemning the predatory exploitation of a vulnerable woman. He praised the Specialist Crime unit for their relentless work to crack the case.
