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Christian Darko guilty of Rose Doughty Middlesbrough murder Christian Darko guilty of Rose Doughty Middlesbrough murder
(about 5 hours later)
A man has been found guilty of murdering his 72-year-old neighbour when she refused to hand over money.A man has been found guilty of murdering his 72-year-old neighbour when she refused to hand over money.
Mother of four and grandmother of 11, Rose Doughty was stabbed and strangled at her home in Fosdyke Green, Middlesbrough, in November.Mother of four and grandmother of 11, Rose Doughty was stabbed and strangled at her home in Fosdyke Green, Middlesbrough, in November.
Christian Darko, 41, was found guilty of murder by unanimous verdict at Teesside Crown Court. Christian Darko, 41, was found guilty by unanimous verdict at Teesside Crown Court and must serve a minimum of 27 years in jail.
Cleveland Police said Darko had shown no remorse for the neighbour who had "only ever been kind to him". Cleveland Police said he had shown no remorse.
Darko, who denied murder, will be sentenced later 'Huge void'
In a statement, Ms Doughty's family said: "This has destroyed our lives and left a huge void that can never be filled.
"Two of her young grandsons should never have had to carry her coffin in such tragic circumstances.
"He never gave us chance to give her one last kiss goodbye and only he knows what happened in those 30 minutes and we have to sit and torture ourselves with the if only's - if only she had not been so kind-hearted to this evil man."
Det Insp Kath Vickers said the community had been "horrified" by the murder of Ms Doughty, who lived alone.Det Insp Kath Vickers said the community had been "horrified" by the murder of Ms Doughty, who lived alone.
'Family's agony'
She said: "She had shown friendship to Christian Darko who lived in a flat below her.She said: "She had shown friendship to Christian Darko who lived in a flat below her.
"She had helped him out when he needed his phone charging, hot water or giving him small food provisions."She had helped him out when he needed his phone charging, hot water or giving him small food provisions.
"She was well known in the local community and her family and friends are left devastated by her murder.""She was well known in the local community and her family and friends are left devastated by her murder."
She said Darko had shown no remorse or compassion during police interviews.
"The disregard he showed for both his crime and Rose's family was borne out in court by his selfish and disruptive behaviour whilst hearing the evidence," she said."The disregard he showed for both his crime and Rose's family was borne out in court by his selfish and disruptive behaviour whilst hearing the evidence," she said.
"This disruption has prolonged the family's agony in hearing the facts leading up to Rose's death. "This disruption has prolonged the family's agony in hearing the facts leading up to Rose's death."
"Christian Darko is a dangerous offender who has attempted to hide behind ignorance in failing to acknowledge what he has done."
She paid tribute to Ms Doughty's family who had acted "with great dignity, composure and courage".