Strangler given 19-year sentence 25 years after killing pensioner in North Belfast

A serial criminal who strangled a kindly pensioner 25 years ago after trying to rob her has been sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison.

Samuel Dunwoody, 52, was searching for money at her house in North Belfast and killed the widow to ensure there was no witness, a court in the city heard. He was today ordered to serve life imprisonment and it will be almost two decades before he can be considered for release.

A re-investigation was launched following forensic advances. The murderer was caught after police found his DNA under the fingernails of victim Margaret “Peggy” Telford, 68. He had a string of convictions for violence against women.