British Woman Breaks Silence in Benidorm Vacuum Cable Killing Case
A British woman accused of strangling an Irish pensioner to death with a vacuum cleaner cable at her Benidorm home has told a Spanish court she 'lost her mind' in a 'moment of madness'. The 64-year-old suspect broke a six-month silence to offer her version of events for the first time since her arrest.
Victim and Suspect Details Emerge
Victim Catherine 'Cat' Peckham, 66, was described by police as an Irish passport holder after she was killed last September. She is said to have been born Catherine Murray in Cork and spent much of her life in Manchester, similar to her alleged attacker. The suspect, who has not been named by Spanish police, is reported to have confessed immediately after her arrest but later refused to answer questions, claiming she was in shock during her initial court appearance.
Courtroom Claims and Alleged Motives
According to local newspaper Informacion, the suspect has now claimed she was reacting to a 'situation of mistreatment' after volunteering to give evidence. She told the judge, 'I lost it,' and cited her alleged victim's alcohol problems as fuelling tensions. The suspect had accepted Catherine's offer of a room when she arrived in Spain and struggled to find accommodation, staying in the apartment for four days before the crime.
Crime Scene and Investigation Details
The apartment where the crime occurred is located in Benidorm's Rincon de Loix neighbourhood, home to the famous Little England area. It was sealed with police tape bearing a Spanish message, 'Police line. Do not cross.' Two mobility scooters, commonly used by British holidaymakers and expats in the Costa Blanca resort, were parked by the door, with one believed to have been used by the victim.
The vacuum cleaner cable was found around the victim's neck and taken for DNA testing. A subsequent report in a local Spanish paper, which police did not comment on, stated the suspect confessed to a friend over the phone that she had strangled the older woman during an argument.
Legal Proceedings and Police Statements
Public prosecutors requested the British woman's prison remand during her first court appearance last September, citing the seriousness of the allegations, her lack of a permanent address, and flight risk. A judge approved the remand, and she remains in custody after being questioned by an investigating judge.
Spanish police initially stated both women were from the UK but later confirmed the deceased was Irish. A spokesman for the National Police in Alicante said, 'A woman aged 64 has been arrested on suspicion of killing another 66-year-old woman, both from the UK.' The investigation is ongoing, with police declining to provide further details to avoid hampering the probe.
Potential Plea Bargain and Case Background
A plea bargain has not been ruled out, which could see the British woman admit to a lesser charge of homicide in exchange for a reduced sentence instead of facing a more serious murder charge under Spanish law. Any deal would require agreement between the suspect, her lawyer, and prosecutors.
The elderly pair were initially described as holidaymakers, and a third British woman, reported to have been staying with them, was said to have phoned emergency services after witnessing the homicide. It later transpired this woman was not at the flat but had taken a call from the suspect and alerted authorities.
