Husband in the grip of a ‘psychotic episode’ beat his wife and neighbour to death in Crawley Down

A husband in the grip of a psychotic episode bludgeoned his wife and a pensioner to death in a daylight attack, a court heard.
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Daniel Appleton was heard shouting: “I could murder you,” before dragging his wife out of their Crawley Down home and beating her to death on the driveway.

He killed their elderly neighbour, beating her head with her own walking stick, when she confronted him and tried to stop him.

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He turned the same metal stick on his wife before trying to kill himself, the court heard.

Daniel Appleton arrives at Lewes Crown CourtDaniel Appleton arrives at Lewes Crown Court
Daniel Appleton arrives at Lewes Crown Court

Nicholas Corsellis QC told the court: “In those moments, the Crown say, he was intent on murder.”

Appleton, who denies murder, has already admitted killing his wife Amy, 32, and Sandy Seagrave, 76.

Amy, a much loved school teacher described as a loving, generous person, died from head injuries she suffered in the attack on December 22 last year.

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The court heard there was never any suggestion they were anything other than a loving, happily married couple.

Amy was found lying on a stretch of grass outside the house. Mrs Seagrave was found lying in the street.

The court heard that Appleton and Amy met in 2006 and had been happily married since 2018.

Sandra Seagrave, 76, maintained and active lifestyle despite needing a stick after injuring her leg in 2018.

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She was well known in the community and was often seen walking her dog.

Nicholas Corsellis told the jury: “At 10.15am on Sunday December 22, just before Christmas, the defendant pursued his wife Amy out of their home and began to assault her on their driveway.

“Sandra Seagrave, a slightly built lady aged 76, standing 4’9” in height was on her morning walk using a walking stick to assist her.

“She saw what was happening and intervened by speaking to the defendant no doubt in order to protect Amy Appleton.

“The defendant reacted by turning his aggression on her.

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“He did so verbally at first but then by taking her walking stick from her and beating to her death with it..

“He then returned with the stick to his wife, who was probably trying to hide from the man she loved, and proceeded to beat her to death with it too.”

Following his attack, Appleton, 37, tried to take his own life. But his life was saved and Appleton admitted responsibility for the deaths of his wife and Sandy Seagrave at an earlier hearing.

The court heard Appleton has no history of violence or convictions.

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Mr Corsellis said: “He was experiencing a psychotic episode. The key question for you in this trial is: was his mental state due to the use of illegal drugs or was it as a result of a temporary mental psychotic breakdown which the defendant is blameless for.”

Witnesses said they heard Appleton shouting he was God. Police found him in the kitchen, lying naked in a pool of blood.

Toxicology found no illegal street drugs, Mr Corsellis said, although it was impossible to test for every drug.

But it was later discovered that Appleton had made a seriesof internet searches about magic mushrooms on December 11, 2019.

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A forensic pharmacologist said Appleton’s behaviour was likely to be as a result of taking a highly potent synthetic version of LSD.

Tests carried out later by a specialist based in France found traces of the drug in hair and nail samples and concluded that the drugs could have been present in the defendant at the time of the killings.

“There is a further toxicological issue in that the tests on the defendant’s hair sample taken when at hospital reveal the presence of 2 drugs, levetiracetam and carbamazepine which were not administered to the defendant by the LAS or at hospital.

“The expert opinion is that it is possible that these drugs could have had a contributory effect to the episode of behaviour.”

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Appleton’s father Gary said he was concerned about his son’s behaviur in the days leading up to the deaths, the court heard.

Mr Corsellis told the jury: “Gary Appleton concluded that his son was stressed from work and overworking and that he needed the rest over the holiday to think things through and work out what direction he wanted to go.

“He did not think for a moment that his son was displaying any behaviour that might endanger Amy Appleton.”

In a conversation with his mother, Marilyn Appleton, on December 22, Appleton said something amazing had happened.

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Mr Corsellis said: “His mother let him talk to assist him unburdening himself.

“At one point she recalled him saying, “I feel like I’m going to live forever. I feel like Jesus. I feel like God.”

“The defendant was not speaking in an aggressive or angry way and did not express any frustration as to his relationship with his wife.

“He did say a curious thing when he said that he had “seen Uncle Steve this week” as his uncle had died six years previously.

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“The conversation ended when the defendant said on the telephone “Amy, talk to my Mum.”

“Marilyn Appleton sensed that Amy Appleton said “no” or was negative in her response to him and she heard the defendant start shouting, getting really annoyed and “losing it”.

“She heard Amy saying to him “OK. I’ll go back to bed. I’ll go back to bed,” trying to keep him calm.”

She heard Appleton shouting before the line went dead.

“Fearing something serious was happening the defendant’s parents drove over to their son’s home to find the police and emergency services there.”

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A neighbour, Ivonne Greenwell, said she heard shouting and dialled 999 when she heard Appleton shout: “I could murder you!”

While she was still on the phone, Ms Greenwell saw Sandra Seagrave confront Appleton, dressed only in his boxer shorts, outside the house.

Mr Corsellis said: “As the defendant approached her and she raised her stick and gestured it towards him.

“He grabbed the crutch from her hand and struck her to the head which caused her to fall to the ground.

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“Ms Greenwell screamed through her window to the defendant saying “Dan don’t do it, stop it” but the defendant raised the crutch with both hands and repeatedly brought it down onto Mrs Seagrave with full force.”

Janet Spragg was out running with her dog when she saw Ms Seagrave walking towards a man dressed only in boxer shorts.

He began shouting at Mrs Seagrave and calling her names but she wasn’t having any of it, Mrs Spragg said.

He grabbed the walking stick and jabbed the pensioner forcefully into the centre of her stomach with it.

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Mr Spragg said “He knew I was there but it was almost like there was not a lot going on facially with him, his face was set.

“There was something almost possessed.”

She watched in horror as he lifted the crutch above his head.

“She saw him raising it, looked at her and ‘he just slammed it down on the lady’s head lying at his feet with as much force as he had used before’.

“He appeared to her to get some enjoyment out of it,” Mr Corsellis said.

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“She saw the defendant casting the crutch to the ground before walking towards a house, throwing his arms up shouting.

More neighbours came out of their homes as the noise grew. Some saw Appleton walking around naked and ranting.

He was shouting: “I know I’ve killed my wife and I know I am going to prison,” Gary Wigzell told police.

Nicholas Corsellis told the jury at Lewes Crown Court in Hove: “The key question for you in this trial is, was his mental state due to the use of illegal drugs or was it as a result of a temporary mental breakdown which the defendant is blameless for?”

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Daniel Appleton ran a car repair firm with his partner Simon Davidson.

Mr Davidson said the business was going well although he thought his colleague was thinking about dissolving the partnership.

Mr Appleton, who has no previous convictions, denies murder.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court in Hove continues.