Daniel Dighton
| AKA | |
| DOB | 1975 |
| Occupation | |
| Kill Total | 2 |
| Kill Place | Croydon, London |
| Kill Date | Sept 2009 |
| M.O. | Stabbing |
| Victim | Barry Dighton-61. Elizabeth Dighton-60. |
| Court | The Old Bailey |
| Judge | Timothy Pontius |
| Prosceution | Crispin Aylett QC |
| Defence | Joel Bennathan KC |
| Case No: | T20097380 |
Daniel Dighton was born and grew up in Singapore, his parents were well off and popular, Daniel wanted for nothing. On moving back to the UK, Barry became head at an exclusive private prep school, with wife Elizabeth a head of year. They gave Daniel a job as a teaching assistant and handyman. But, when his parents retired Daniel also left the school. He drifted throgh a few jobs but never managed to hold onto a job. He would spend his evenings at the local pub, where he was popular and well liked.
He told friends many lies, including hiding the fact he lived with his parents, saying he lived alone.
His parents funded his entire life, even giving him £40,000 at one time. he was very spoilt.
At one stage he told everyone hew was off to Thailand to be a teacher, the pub crew threw him a going away party. six weeks later he was spotted in the neighbourhood, he explained he had come home as his mother had passed away. Friends from the pub made a collection to buy flowers, but on the day of the alleged funeral they found no trace of his mum.
He had in fact been rejected from the job, and never left the country, instead travelling to his parents second home in France, where he stayed a few weeks.
30th September 2009, Mr and Mrs Dighton arrived back at lunchtime from a shopping trip, to find their son still in bed, with a hangover. Mrs Dighton called him lazy, and an idiot.
A quarrel broke out, an argument that quickly got out of hand.
Daniel Dighton armed himself with two knives, stabbing both of his parents to death in an attack of terrible ferocity.
Neighbours heard the commotion and called the police, the raised voices were so loud the neighbour heard Elizabeth shout I love, Daniel responded 'mum I love you', this it is believed as he was stabbing her. When police arrived and broke in the discovered the two bodies, they then discovered Dighton hiding in the loft with blood all over his hands. He was smoking a cigarette, when asked why he was in the loft he explained it was the only place in the house he was allowed to smoke.
A quarrel broke out, an argument that quickly got out of hand.
Daniel Dighton armed himself with two knives, stabbing both of his parents to death in an attack of terrible ferocity.
Neighbours heard the commotion and called the police, the raised voices were so loud the neighbour heard Elizabeth shout I love, Daniel responded 'mum I love you', this it is believed as he was stabbing her. When police arrived and broke in the discovered the two bodies, they then discovered Dighton hiding in the loft with blood all over his hands. He was smoking a cigarette, when asked why he was in the loft he explained it was the only place in the house he was allowed to smoke.
27th August 2010, Dighton appeared via videolink from prison
11th October 2010, Dinghton appeared at The Old Bailey, Dighton admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, a plea which was accepted by the jury. Dighhton refused to take the stand.
22nd October 2010, The jury convicted Dighton by an 11-1 majority verdict, the judge, Timothy Pontius, described the killing as a "truly horrific act of savagery".
He was sentenced to an indefinite period, but must serve at least 15-years in prison.
September 2023, Deighton is recommended for release from prison on a second parole hearing.
19th October 2023, Deighton is released on licence. He was able to claim the £1.5 million he inherited from his parents.
