Woman gets life for killing WWII vet

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WOLVERHAMPTON, England, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- An English mother with a history of drug use was sentenced to life in prison Friday for beating a World War II veteran to death with a kitchen pot.

A judge ruled Charlotte Frazier-Doody, 36, must serve at least 20 years before release, the Daily Mirror reported. She was sentenced after a jury in Wolverhampton Crown Court deliberated for less than 5 hours before finding her guilty.

Friends found William Davis, 92, clinging to life in his home in Willenhall, West Midlands, on April 1. He died 3 hours later in a hospital.

While Judge John Warner said the motive for the killing is unclear, witnesses said Frazier-Doody claimed to be a beneficiary of his will. Investigators said she got into the house by bringing him a meal.

"In what should have been the safety and security of his own home, he was savagely beaten to death by you, one of his neighbors and that involved the use of some kind of substantial object," Warner said. "He suffered many blows to his head and it is clear that he was either attacked when on the floor or the attack continued when he fell on the floor."

Davis served in the Royal Navy during World War II and was awarded nine medals. He later worked as a locksmith. He had lived alone since his wife of 60 years died in 2006.