Student guilty of killing guardian doctor

3:11pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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A 22-YEAR-OLD student has been given a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering a doctor in Dartford.

David Quartey was found guily of murdering Dr Victoria Anyetei after a four-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

He was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years in prison before being considered for parole.

Dr Anyetei was stabbed 57 times outside her home in Teynham Road, Dartford, on August 14 last year.

The frenzied attack left the mother of one dead at the wheel of her car.

Quartey, of Humber Road, Dartford, denied killing the consultant paediatrician.

The jury had previously been told by Quartey that he "loved" and respected her "like a mum".

He had lived at the house in Teynham Road with Dr Anyetei and her son, Andrew Thompson, since July 2005 after arriving in the UK.

The jury heard that Quartey murdered Dr Anyetei in her car on the driveway of her home. He then disposed of the murder weapon and 'discovered' the murder two hours later.

The murder weapon, together with Dr Anyetei's glasses and car key were never found.

Sentencing Quartey, Judge Jeremy Carey said: "By your wicked act you have deprived a son of a loving mother and a close family of a loving and supporting sister.

"I assess David Quartey to be a highly dangerous young man, someone who poses a significant danger."

Speaking after the sentencing, north Kent deputy area commander Superintendent Paul Gladstone said: "Dr Anyetei was a well respected and loved member of our local community and her murder was a particularly vicious and shocking crime which affected everyone who knew her.

"I am proud that the thorough and dedicated work of the officers on the murder investigation team has secured the conviction of David Quartey and that this violent man will spend a considerable time in prison for his actions."

Dr Anyetei's brother Jonathan said: "We are very happy with the verdict, and are so pleased that we have now got justice for Victoria."

He added: "Victoria's death has left a vacuum in our lives which will never be filled. She was one of the leading members of our family.

"She helped the weaker ones in the family and was always there whenever anyone had a problem.

"One member of our family who will miss her the most is our youngest sister, who is very ill and relied so much on Victoria."

Dr Anyetei moved to England from Ghana around 1996 and had lived in Dartford for eight years.

She had worked in a hospital in Sidcup and other areas in the south east prior to working in London.

Facts about the investigation

• Blood was found at the scene belonging to Quartey and he was also found to have sustained an injury to his finger. A bite mark on Dr Anyetei was found to match Quartey's teeth.

• Trainers belonging to Quartey were found to have Dr Anyetei's blood on them, together with particles of a scouring pad, found missing from the bathroom of the Doctor's house, which he had used to try and clean them.

• During the investigation, officers:

Visited 120 homes as part of house-to-house enquiries.

Distributed 2,000 appeal leaflets to drivers during a road check one week after the murder.

Took 648 witness and police statements.

• There were 1,240 exhibits.

• The murder inquiry team based in Chatham involved a dedicated team of 20 officers plus support staff.

• Four officers were from Essex and two stayed with the investigation until September 2007.