‘They will live on in our hearts’: Families of Crawley Down murder victims speak out

Amy Appleton, 32, was killed by her husband Daniel outside their home in Hazel Way last Christmas. And today a jury found Daniel Appleton, 38, guilty of Amy’s murder and that of passerby Sandy Seagrave, 76, after a six-week trial.

Following the verdict, Amy’s family said: “It has now been a year since we lost our wonderful Amy. Never a day goes by that we don’t miss and think of our beautiful, kind, caring daughter, sister and step-sister.

“As time goes by it seems to get harder to understand how we lost her in such tragic circumstances and our family will struggle to move on.

“Amy will live on in our minds and in our hearts, and will always be missed by the many people, colleagues and school children that she knew and who loved her.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the police investigation team for their perseverance and hard work, together with Nicholas Corsellis and Kerry Broome, to get the justice that our Amy deserved.”

A tribute released by Amy’s family last December described her as ‘a strong, positive person who always smiled’.

It said: “She was a rock for her family, a rock for her friends and most of all a rock for herself. Amy always thought of others before herself.

“Amy led the life she was destined to fill, following her passions. Her school will be missing an incredible, dedicated teacher, she gave 110 per cent to her pupils. Her light will always shine in our lives but a hole has been left with broken hearts.”

A statement released by Sandy’s family following the verdict said: “Sandy was a lady of old-fashioned values who was a true character. She could be intensely private but would happily talk to anyone, and she would not turn away from a situation.

“She was very well known around Crawley Down walking her dog around the village. Even if people didn’t know her name they still knew her by sight. She had many friends among her lovely neighbours who were always willing to lend her a helping hand if it was needed.

“We, her family, miss her so much and find it so hard to understand how this tragic event occurred. It has left a hole in our lives as big as her personality, as I am sure it has the community of Crawley Down.

“It may be a year since she was killed but the memory and pain we all felt then is still just as fresh today. Her tragic death is something that is almost impossible to come to terms with.”

CrawleyDown man found guilty of murdering his wife and neighbour