Engineer Daniel Appleton Guilty of Murder in Crawley Down Double Killing
Daniel Appleton, 38, has been found guilty of murdering his wife Amy Appleton, 32, and neighbour Sandy Seagrave, 76. The tragic attack occurred outside their home in Hazel Way, Crawley Down, on the morning of December 22, 2019.
Shocking Attack on Driveway
Neighbours reported hearing Daniel shouting at Amy shortly before she fled their house. Amy was then violently attacked on the driveway. Passing by, Sandy Seagrave tried to intervene, but Daniel struck her repeatedly with her own walking stick. After leaving Sandy wounded in the street, he returned to Amy, continuing the brutal assault with the stick.
Despite valiant efforts from passersby and emergency services, both women sadly died at the scene.
Psychotic Episode and Drug Link Revealed
Police found Daniel locked inside the house, having seriously harmed himself. He was hospitalised and later arrested for double murder.
Friends and family described Daniel’s behaviour as ‘agitated’ and ‘possessed’. Three psychiatric assessments concluded he suffered a brief psychotic episode with hypomanic symptoms during the killings.
Tests revealed tiny traces of a psychoactive substance similar to LSD on Daniel’s hair and nails. Although he denied taking drugs, the jury ruled drug use played a role in triggering his violent episode.
Families Mourn and Call for Justice
“Never a day goes by that we don’t miss our beautiful, kind, caring Amy,” said her family. “Her light will always shine in our lives but a hole has been left with broken hearts.”
“Sandy was a lady of old-fashioned values and a true character,” said her family. “Her tragic death has left a hole in our lives as big as her personality.”
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Friday praised witnesses and emergency services for their bravery and said the police investigation was “complex and thorough.”
Daniel Appleton was convicted on December 29, 2020, and awaits sentencing on January 25, 2021.
