Carjacker found guilty of murder

June Everitt was unloading her shopping when she was run over

A drug addict has been jailed for life for the murder of businesswoman June Everitt during a carjacking outside her home.

Manny Davis, 30, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, had admitted the manslaughter of 52-year-old Miss Everitt in Luton on 3 July last year.

But Davis denied a charge of murdering the single businesswoman.

On Thursday, a jury at St Albans Crown Court took less than two hours to find him guilty.

The court heard he ran over his victim as he tried to get away in her car.

Davis told the court he did not see her running away as he reversed the Renault Megane car down a narrow alleyway at speeds of nearly 25mph.

Miss Everitt was dragged more than 10 yards down the track, which leads from a lock-up garage she rented to her home on Ridgway Road.

Davis could have stopped and helped June, but he chose to drive on Det Supt Nicky Dahl

Witnesses reported hearing her scream for more than three minutes to try to attract attention and then heard a car revving and accelerating three or four times.

Miss Everitt, a senior buyer for a merchandise company, died on the operating table at Luton and Dunstable Hospital later that night.

Mr Justice Beatson sentenced Davis to life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years.

He told him: "The sentence for murder is life imprisonment and that is the sentence that this court imposes on you."

Following the verdict the court heard Davis had 13 previous convictions for burglary and car theft including assaulting a police officer and taking his patrol car.

Miss Everitt's brothers said the verdict meant their family could now grieve.

Manny Davis had 13 prior convictions

Alan Everitt, 55, said: "I don't have any grievance against Manny Davis, but hopefully when he comes out of prison at the age of 50 he will have some remorse and never do this sort of thing again.

"Drugs and this sort of petty crime can lead to such awful results."

He added: "When she (Miss Everitt) went she left a big void behind her in our lives. We'll never close that gap but we'll do our best."

Det Supt Nicky Dahl, of Bedfordshire Police, said he believed justice had been done.

"What makes this case so shocking is that June was a totally innocent member of the public and could so easily have been our sister or aunt.

"Davis could have stopped and helped June but he chose to drive on."