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Drug-addict neighbour convicted of murdering World War II veteran
30 November 2012
A DECORATED World War II veteran who survived the Dunkirk evacuation was brutally murdered by a drug-addict neighbour a court ruled today.
Charlotte Frazier-Doody was found guilty of murdering naval hero Bill Davis in his Willenhall home last spring just days after his 92nd birthday.
She was sentenced today (November 30) at Wolverhampton Crown Court to life and will serve a minimum of twenty years.
The court heard how the mum, a heroin and crack cocaine user, befriended Mr Davis before brutally beating him to death at his home in Hobley Street on Sunday 1 April. The 36-year-old has never revealed a motive for the shocking attack and nothing was stolen.
Frazier-Doody pleaded her innocence throughout the investigation – however, blood and hair found at the murder scene provided an irrefutable DNA link.
CCTV footage was also recovered showing Doody shortly after the attack travelling to a nearby street where we were told she was trying to dispose of blood-stained clothing in a wheelie bin.
Detective Sergeant Rob Bastin, the senior investigating officer, said: “Bill was a decorated war hero and was awarded the 39-45 star, the Atlantic, Africa and Burma Star along with many others.
“Mr Davis saw action during the Dunkirk evacuation and was involved in the relief of Malta.
“He served with distinction throughout Europe and was 150 miles off the coast of Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima – he returned from every conflict unscathed.
“How tragic, those after he fought for many years to ensure the safety of every person in this country that he died in his own home, a place where he should have been safe.
“Charlotte Frazier-Doody was addicted to Class A drugs at the time of Bill's murder, and was his neighbour and purported to be his friend.
“She always protested her innocence and tried to say she visited Bill on the day of the murder as a ‘good neighbour’ and provided him with a dinner. Instead she betrayed Bill's trust in the most awful way and beat him to death whilst he lay defenceless in his living room.
“It's difficult to find the words to describe how evil and calculated this woman has been and to this day I am not completely sure exactly what her motive was, however I feel you don’t have to look far from her addiction and desperation for money to pay for her drugs.
“It's clear from the verdict today that the jury saw through her web of lies and saw her for the person she really is.
“There has been a large quantity of CCTV evidence collected and used throughout the investigation, and I'd like to thank those local people and businesses that assisted by providing this to the police, this proved crucial to piece together Doody's movements on the day of the murder.
“I'd like to thank members of the local community who have assisted in this investigation and particular those who have provided evidence to the court, Bill was an incredibly well liked man and known to most within the small community where he lived, the shock of this incident has affected many of these people.
“I hope the verdict today provides some comfort to the family of Bill.”
Thomas Davis, Bill’s son also paid tribute to his father, he said: “My father was a well respected and likeable man who never did anyone any harm, he loved his family and when my Mom died in 2006 he was devastated after 63 years of marriage.
“He also lost my sister in 2008 which broke his heart, but he carried on. His war record began in the Royal Navy in 1939 and he was involved in many campaigns…
“Dad never spoke a lot about his war service. The details came out in dribs and drabs over the years but his medals speak for themselves. He was a hero who deserved a lot better end to his life…
“The death of my father has had a massive impact upon all the family not least his sister Dolly. She still cannot come to terms with the way in which my dad’s life came to an end…
“Dad will be sadly missed by me, my wife his close relatives and his neighbours. I hope he is now reunited with my Mom and sister but the pain of losing him in such a tragic way will take me and the rest of the family a life time to come to terms with.”
