She Was Randomly Attacked and Killed While Walking Her Dog. Now Her Children Say 'Nothing Will Ever Be the Same' By Sean Neumann

A British man whose “savage attack” last summer left an unsuspecting 57-year-old woman “almost unrecognizable” has been found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life in prison, according to several reports.

The BBC, Sky News, and the local Harwich and Manningtree Standard reported that Roy Barclay, 56, was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday morning for the killing of Anita Rose, whom he attacked while she walked her dog alone last July.

“He has put us through a nightmare which we can’t wake up from,” Rose’s daughter Jessica Cox told the court in a victim impact statement, according to Sky News. “I don’t feel he has shown any remorse. I believe he’s cunning, and I believe he’s enjoyed what he’s done and the trial itself.”

“He hasn’t had to face us,” she continued. “He hasn’t had to face the consequences of what he’s done or what he’s done to us.”

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced last month that Barclay had been found guilty of “brutally” attacking Rose while she walked her dog Bruce in Brantham, a village in Suffolk, England.

Authorities said Rose was walking Bruce on a public footpath when she was “viciously kicked and stamped” by Barclay and “left for dead.”

The 57-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital but died four days later from her injuries.

The CPS said Barclay had been “on the run” from police in connection with another attack and that some of Rose’s belongings, including her house key, jacket, and phone case were found in the makeshift camps he was staying at in the woods. He would change his appearance to evade detection, the CPS said, including by shaving his head.

Ultimately, police tracked down Barclay’s whereabouts using local CCTV footage.

But Rose’s family continues to suffer a self-described “nightmare” since her death. On Wednesday, BBC reported that Rose’s son Ashley said the attack left his mother “almost unrecognisable.”

Rose’s other son, Markeece Rose, told the court he’s felt “broken” since his mother’s death.

“Nothing will ever be the same again,” he said.

The outlet reported that Barclay “sat emotionless” while Rose’s children read their impact statements, “choosing to avoid” looking in their direction.