Latest news with #OwenGrant
Sky News
29-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
Man jailed for at least 24 years over murder of Elgin woman
A man who went on a spending spree after beating a mother-of-two to death in Moray has been jailed for at least 24 years. Owen Grant, 43, killed Lucretia Donaghy, 32, known as Kiesha, at her home in Elgin in November 2023. Judge Lord Scott said Grant murdered the "unarmed and defenceless" woman by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a claw hammer or similar implement. Ms Donaghy died as a result of blunt force head injuries. Lord Scott described the frenzied attack as "exceptionally savage" and "brutal". He told Grant: "Whatever implement you used, whether a claw hammer or something similar, the murder weapon was never found, undoubtedly disposed of by you in calm and calculated efforts to conceal your crime and dispose of any evidence in its immediate aftermath." The court heard there had been no evidence of provocation, with Grant accused of murdering Ms Donaghy for money. Lord Scott stated: "On the evidence, you were struggling to pay your rent at the time. On your own evidence, you owed Lucretia Donaghy money for drugs. "Almost immediately after her death, you embarked, once again calmly, on a spending spree involving attending to your own needs and drug habit. "You went from having only £12.36 in the bank on 15 November 2023 to frittering away hundreds of pounds on cocaine in a matter of three or four days. "Frittering away hundreds of pounds of the murdered Lucretia Donaghy's money entirely on your own selfish purposes. You started to do so before her body had even been discovered, within no more than two hours of her death." Grant denied any wrongdoing but was on Thursday found guilty of murder following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Lord Scott handed him a life sentence with at least 24 years behind bars. The judge highlighted a victim impact statement prepared by Ms Donaghy's mother, Amanda Gow. Lord Scott said: "She mourns for her daughter and the life Kiesha would have had. Her mind returns constantly to Kiesha's final minutes, wondering if she was in pain." In a statement released through Police Scotland, Ms Gow thanked all those who have shown support. She added: "Life without Kiesha will never be the same. She was my only daughter and my first born. Her two daughters will have to live their lives without their mum. "I still cannot get my head around the fact that she is gone and that her life was taken in such a brutal way." Detective Superintendent Lorna Ferguson said it had been a "complex enquiry", but Grant was now facing the consequences of his actions. She added: "My thoughts remain with Kiesha's family and friends as they continue to try to come to terms with what happened. I hope the verdict will bring them some form of justice."
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Savage killer who beat mum to death in 'exceptionally brutal' attack in home given at least 24 years
A killer who went on a spending spree after savagely beating a woman to death in her own home has been jailed for life for her murder. Owen Grant repeatedly bludgeoned Lucretia Donaghy, known as Keshia, with a weapon like a claw hammer in the fatal attack. A judge ordered that the 43-year-old must serve a minimum prison term of 24 years before he is eligible to seek release on parole because of the 'exceptionally brutal nature of the murder' and the killer's extensive record for violent crime. Lord Scott told Grant that he murdered 'an unarmed and defenceless' woman. He said: 'The attack was exceptionally savage, frenzied and, as your own senior counsel said, brutal.' The judge added: 'The reasons for this brutal murder remain unknown, but appear almost certainly to have been related to money.' Lord Scott said that after the murder Grant embarked on a spending spree 'frittering away' hundreds of pounds on cocaine. The judge told him that when, if ever, he is released, it will be a matter for the parole board. He said that in a victim impact statement the deceased's mother said her heart was broken following the loss of her only daughter. The mother-of-two died after sustaining multiple blunt force head injuries and was found lying face down in a bedroom at her address in Elgin, Moray. A neighbour had heard sounds of an argument coming from the downstairs flat and the victim calling out: 'No, no, no.' A passport in the name of Owen Grant was found in the property and he left his hand print in the victim's blood on a bedroom wall but claimed it came from tattooing her wrist. However, he was caught on camera with a wad of money after the killing. Grant, of Elgin, denied murdering the 32-year-old and claimed: 'I never laid a finger on her.' He told the High Court in Edinburgh that the killing was 'disgusting' and 'horrible' and he was devastated by the death. But a jury found him guilty of assaulting Ms Donaghy by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with an unknown object and murdering her on November 15, 2023 in Elgin, by a majority verdict on the third day of deliberations. Grant, a former labourer, who has previous convictions for violence and was sentenced to eight years detention in 2003 for arson to danger of life at Warrington Crown Court, in Cheshire, admitted he owed the victim £300 for cocaine but insisted he was planning to pay her back. But the court heard he had just £12 in his bank account at the time of the murder and had not paid his rent that week. Advocate depute Christopher Wilson KC told jurors: 'My suggestion to you is the accused had run out of money. A drug habit and a lack of money is a bad combination.' He added: 'No one saw Owen Grant wield the hammer. The hammer itself has never been recovered, if you accept it was a hammer.' Grant was seen on CCTV putting a bag in a refuse bin after the killing and buying cigarettes and drinks at a Scotmid store with a large amount of cash in his wallet. No money was recovered when police searched Ms Donaghy's home following the slaying and no murder weapon was found, however, a witness said Grant had made attempts to buy hundreds of pounds worth of drugs afterwards. Following the sentencing, her grieving mother, Amanda Gow, said: 'Life without Keshia will never be the same. She was my only daughter and my first born. Her two daughters will have to live their lives without their mum. 'I still cannot get my head around the fact that she is gone and that her life was taken in such a brutal way.' She thanked for police and everyone who's supported the family and asked for their privacy to be respected. Detective Superintendent Lorna Ferguson said: 'My thoughts remain with Keshia's family and friends as they continue to try to come to terms with what happened. I hope the verdict will bring them some form of justice. 'This was a complex enquiry and I would like to thank the local community for their patience and assistance throughout our investigation. 'Grant now faces the consequences of his actions.'
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Evil killer who went on cocaine spending spree after murdering woman with claw hammer at Scots home jailed for 24 years
Ex-con Owen Grant was claimed to be in a "financial crisis" when he clubbed Kiesha Donaghy to death FRENZIED ATTACK Evil killer who went on cocaine spending spree after murdering woman with claw hammer at Scots home jailed for 24 years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GREEDY fiend who battered a mum to death in her own bed so he could steal her cash was caged for life yesterday. Desperate Owen Grant, 43, bludgeoned defenceless Keshia Donaghy, 32, to death with a weapon, believed to be a claw hammer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Keshia Donaghy was murdered in her own bed by twisted Owen Grant Credit: Facebook 4 Owen Grant boasted about being locked up for setting someone on fire Credit: Facebook 4 Keshia mum paid tribute to her after Owen Grant was convicted Credit: Facebook 4 Owent Grant will spend at least 24 years behind bars Credit: Police Scotland He never revealed why he carried out the horrific attack but it's claimed he was skint and desperately wanted the £770 he'd seen her count at her flat in Elgin, Moray. His murder trial was told that after killing the mother-of-two he went on a spending spree with a wad of cash and splashed out hundreds of pounds on cocaine. As he caged Grant for at least 24 years, Lord Scott told him: 'The attack was exceptionally savage and frenzied. "The reasons for this brutal murder remain unknown, but appear almost certainly to have been related to money." Keshia mum Amanda Gow admitted she was heartbroken. She said: 'Life without Keshia will never be the same. 'She was my only daughter and my first born. Her two daughters will have to live their lives without their mum. "I still cannot get my head around the fact that she is gone and that her life was taken in such a brutal way.' Keshia was found dead at her ground floor pad hours after neighbours heard a row and someone shouting 'no, no, no'. It was claimed that at first her bloodied body was missed because it was dismissed as a mop. She was eventually found lying face down after being clubbed repeatedly with a weapon that's never been recovered. Friends revealed she had been getting close to violent jailbird Grant who had been caged for eight years in England for arson to danger of life. They said he had boasted to them about being sent away for 14 years for setting someone on fire. Jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh were told Grant had tattooed Keshia daughter's name on her wrist. While her friends told how he'd cooked a meal for her as they spent more and more time together. But shortly before she died Keshia sent a text saying she no longer trusted him and vowed to stay away from him. Grant owed her £300 and claimed he'd gone to pay his bill on the night she was killed in November 2023 but didn't get an answer at the door. Officers later found his bloody handprint on her bedroom wall as well as his passport lying in the flat. Prosecutor Christopher Wilson KC said that at the time of the murder Grant had just over £12 in his bank account and couldn't pay his rent. He told jurors: "My suggestion to you is the accused had run out of money. A drug habit and a lack of money is a bad combination." Grant was seen on CCTV putting a bag in a bin after the killing and buying cigarettes and drinks at a Scotmid store with a large amount of cash in his wallet. While he later turned up drunk at a woman's address and gave her £200 to go and buy cocaine. No money was recovered when officers searched Ms Donaghy's home following the murder. Grant denied the murder and claimed: "I never laid a finger on her." He described the killing as "disgusting" and "horrible" and claimed he was devastated by Keshia death. Jurors took three days to find him guilty of murder by a majority. Detective Superintendent Lorna Ferguson said: 'My thoughts remain with Keshia family and friends as they continue to try to come to terms with what happened. I hope the verdict will bring them some form of justice. 'This was a complex inquiry and I would like to thank the local community for their patience and assistance throughout our investigation. 'Grant now faces the consequences of his actions. 'Violence such as this is never acceptable in our communities and we will work tirelessly to ensure those responsible are brought to justice."
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Man guilty of Keshia Donaghy murder must serve 24 years
A man who beat a woman to death in her own home in Moray has been jailed for a minimum of 24 Lucretia Donaghy, 32, who was known as Keshia, was found dead at her home in Anderson Drive, Elgin, in November Grant, 43, had denied assaulting and murdered her by repeatedly striking her on the head and a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found him guilty of murder, where Lord Scott jailed him for life. The judge said: "The attack was exceptionally savage, frenzied and brutal."He said that in a victim impact statement Keshia's mother said her heart was broken following the loss of her only daughter. Keshia died after sustaining multiple blunt force head injuries and was found lying face down in a bedroom.A neighbour had heard sounds of an argument coming from the downstairs flat and the victim calling out: "No, no, no."After the murder, Grant turned up drunk at a woman's address and gave her money to source cocaine. She returned to the house and told him she had learned that Keshia was cried but went on to claim the information was wrong and that police activity at her home was a drugs raid. 'Unarmed and defenceless' Grant denied murder and claimed: "I never laid a finger on her."He told the trial that the killing was "disgusting" and "horrible" and he was devastated by the Scott ordered that Grant must serve a minimum prison term of 24 years before he is eligible to seek release on parole, because of the "exceptionally brutal nature of the murder" and the killer's extensive record for violent judge said he killed an "unarmed and defenceless" Scott said: "The reasons for this brutal murder remain unknown, but appear almost certainly to have been related to money."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Murder trial: Woman was heard shouting before body found
Shouts of "no, no, no" were heard before a woman's body was later discovered in a Moray house, a murder trial has Donaghy, 32, who was known as Kiesha, was found dead at her home in Anderson Drive, Elgin, in November Grant, 43, is alleged to have assaulted and murdered her by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with an unknown Jacqueline Grant, a neighbour of Ms Donaghy, told the High Court in Edinburgh she had heard arguing and shouting. Ms Grant, 59, lived in a flat above, and described what she heard on 15 November, Grant said she was at home with a friend and told the court: "We heard a lot of arguing and shouting downstairs."She heard the sound of a thud and added: "I knew it was somebody falling on the floor because it had happened before."She said the noise was coming from Keisha's flat and told the court: "I think there was a time she was shouting 'no, no, no'."Ms Grant said her neighbour's dog was barking and growling and added: "Obviously there was somebody there that he didn't like."She later heard the dog pining and contacted a friend of Kiesha's, who had a key for the downstairs flat, before the dead woman was discovered. No forced entry Det Sgt Lynsey McLean said that when she went to the flat its front door was undamaged, with no sign of forced entry to the officer said the deceased was lying face down in a bedroom with her knees up towards her was shown photographs taken at the address and said that in one there was a said she looked at the passport and it was in the name of an Owen also saw a box on a counter top in the kitchen with a label on it with the same trial, before judge Lord Scott, continues.
