In a disturbing case from Spain, an estate agent accused of murdering an elderly British woman in her Costa Blanca home two years ago has claimed she experienced a “psychotic episode” at the time of the killing.
The Crime Scene
Eighty-year-old British widow Monica Warren was reportedly shot and killed in her Elche home in May 2022.
The alleged perpetrator, a 48-year-old estate agent whose name has not been disclosed, is said to have enlisted her 16-year-old son to help move Monica’s body, which was discovered hidden under her bed.
A plumber, who had been called to the house for an urgent repair, found a pool of blood and grew concerned when he saw two people in hoodies leaving the scene in a black Peugeot.
They had told him that Monica was ill and asked him to return the following day.
The Defendant’s Claims
During the trial’s opening day, the accused claimed she “lost her head” and shot Mrs. Warren after seeing a “white silhouette” through the door during heavy rain.
She also mentioned that in the months leading up to the incident, she had been harassed by a “grey-haired” person who followed her everywhere.
The defendant stated that her son, who was in her car outside when she shot Mrs. Warren, was initially unaware of the murder.
She confessed that she later asked him to help move the body while she was in a “state of shock.”
Prosecutors’ Counterclaims
Prosecutors, who are seeking a minimum of 28 years in prison for the defendant, challenge her account, arguing that the murder was premeditated.
They noted that Mrs. Warren had previously reported a stolen .22 Beretta pistol, which was later recovered near the crime scene and is believed to be the murder weapon.
According to the indictment, the prosecution alleges that both the defendant and her son, who was then a minor, were involved in the crime.
They reportedly shot Mrs. Warren three times and stabbed her in the chest.
Afterward, the defendant is accused of setting her car on fire in Alicante to destroy evidence, which also damaged other vehicles.
The Son’s Tragic Fate
The trial for the defendant’s son, initially scheduled to start in June, was delayed after he died in a car accident the day before.
The teenager, who had been on bail following a previous detention, lost control of his convertible Mercedes on the AP-7 motorway near Torrevieja.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Youth court prosecutors had been seeking an eight-year sentence for him if convicted.
Remembering Monica Warren
Monica Warren, originally from Germany and a naturalized British citizen, had moved to Spain with her husband John over 20 years ago.
Her friend Alan Benson, 70, who lived nearby, described her as a former model who was tall and very thin.
He expressed confusion over the crime, stating, “You could knock her over with a feather—I just don’t understand why they did it.”