Man pleads guilty to murdering Tommy Cooper's niece in Eastbourne
Sabrina Cooper was found with stab wounds in her home just before Christmas
A man has pleaded guilty to murdering the niece of comedian Tommy Cooper at her home in Eastbourne.
68-year-old Sabrina Cooper was found dead at her home in Connaught Road at around 6.40pm on December 18th last year.
It was initially thought she had fallen down the stairs, but police found she had suffered five stab wounds to her torso.
Officers were able to trace Tony King, an acquaintance of Sabrina, through her phone contacts.
The 60-year-old was arrested at his home in Cornfield Terrace in the early hours of the following morning.
Crime scene examiners found blood-stained clothing in a washing machine and in the lounge of the one-bedroom flat.
During interview, King admitted to Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team officers that he had murdered Sabrina and provided further information that led to the recovery of a single-edged kitchen knife, which was subsequently identified as the murder weapon.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell, senior investigating officer, said:
"Our thoughts are with Sabrina's family and friends who were shocked at this senseless and apparently motiveless murder.
"King admitted the offence in interview soon after he was arrested, but subsequently pleaded not guilty to murder at court hearings in December and April, unnecessarily extending the process for those grieving her death.
"I would like to acknowledge the professional and thorough work of my colleagues in bringing about the early arrest in the case and for their dedication in bringing the investigation to this conclusion."
King, who had also pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife in a public place at an earlier hearing, will be sentenced on June 23rd.