Start date October 18, 2014 | ||
Donna Eastwood (1988 – 18 October 2014) was a British woman stabbed to death by her neighbour, Joshua Caird in Dartford, England, in 2014. The 26-year-old's body was found in a burnt out car Caird stole from his sister in Rowhill Road in the nearby village of Wilmington, Kent. She was found with several stab wounds to the back.
Contents
Life before murder
Before her murder, Eastwood was a mother of four children.
Murder
The night of her murder, Eastwood was at a birthday party held by her murderer's sister. After the party took place, Eastwood went back to her house. This was the last time she was seen alive.
After the party took place, Caird was found drunk and passed out by his parents. His parents then lifted him up and carried him to his house, which was just a few doors down from his sister's house. His parents then helped him to his bedroom, where he slumped on his bed. A few hours after falling asleep, Caird then walked to Eastwood's house. Once he arrived at her house, she opened the door and he then proceeded to stab her in the back multiple times. He then wrapped the mother of four children in tarpaulin and drove off in his sister's car.
He drove to his brother's house in Dartford, where he asked for his assistance in burying her body. His brother agreed to it, but Caird punched his brother several times, knocking him out.
After knocking his brother out, Caird then drove to the nearby village of Wilmington. Once he arrived there, he doused the car in gasoline and set the car alight. Firefighters were called to the scene of the burning car at 6:20am. Once they put out the flames, a fireman discovered Eastwood's body in the back of the car. The fireman then called the police to tell them of his discovery.
Arrest of Caird
On 19 October, the day after Eastwood's death, Caird was arrested in the attic in his house on suspicion of murdering Eastwood. He was taken to a nearby police station where he was being interviewed by police about the death of Eastwood. He was silent throughout the majority of the interrogation.
On 20 October, Caird was brought to Maidstone Crown Court where he was charged with one count of murder. He was remanded in custody until his trial on 10 April 2015.
Trial
Caird appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on 10 April 2015 accused of murdering Eastwood. During his trial, Nigel Pilkington said that there was "overwhelming evidence" against Caird. In his trial, Caird admitted that he brutally murdered Eastwood.
At the end of his trial, Caird was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
Eastwood's sister, Lisa Sheppard, said after Caird's trial, "I am glad that this nightmare is now over and that justice has been served. Life no doubt will still be hard but to know that Donna's killer is locked up is of some comfort."