Julie Minogue’s family sues cops over ax murder: lawyer
Ewen Dewitt (Milford Police Department), Julie Minogue (WTNH/Screengrab)
The family of a 40-year-old Connecticut mother-of-three has noted their intention to file a civil lawsuit against police and the city of Milford after her ex-boyfriend allegedly broke a protective order and murdered her with an ax in front of her three-year-olds son in December 2022, the family attorney told Law&Crime.
According to the Milford Police Department’s first statement into the brutal murder, it was Julie Minogue’s 17-year-old son who called 911 on the night of December 6 to report that Ewen Dewitt, now 43, was traveling with his mother an ax attacked and killed. The mother’s three-year-old son was at the home at the time and witnessed the attack, the family’s attorney in the upcoming civil case, Michael Rosnick, confirmed to Law&Crime.
The killing came five days after Minogue was “issued a full no-contact order against the suspect following a complaint that the suspect had been sending her harassing text messages,” the Milford Police Department said. The department later stated that in November 2022, Dewitt sent out 200 texts over a two-day period.
Dewitt, of Roxbury, was arrested hours after the murder in a West Haven trailer, police officers said. He was charged with murder, trespassing, criminal violation of a permanent protective order, criminal violation of a restraining order and causing harm to a child, all felonies. Connecticut court records show the defendant also faces a count of harassment over his alleged actions in November, as well as a felony and risk of injury for a 2019 case – alleging an allegedly drunk Dewitt, a playpen on Minogue She was holding her then young son. News 12 reported that Minogue needed five staples to close the resulting wound on the back of her head.
On December 15, Milford Police Chief Keith L. Mello announced that Officer Scott Knablin would be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation into his processing of a warrant application that was not fully completed until after Minogue’s death.
“On November 14, 2022, Julie Minogue came to the police department to file a complaint against Ewen Dewitt for sending her over 200 text messages on November 12-14, 2022, in violation of the protection order prohibiting him from seeing her.” bother Officer Knablin interviewed Julie and gathered the evidence from her cell phone records, which she later made available,” Mello said. “On Friday, November 18, 2022, Officer Knablin completed an arrest warrant application for Ewen Dewitt, charging him with violating a protective order. Under guidelines, the warrant application was reviewed by a supervisor and both the supervisor and the officer believed that the warrant application contained the necessary probable cause to support the charge that the text messages sent by Mr. Dewitt against the amended protection order was issued on January 15, 2021. When the court reopened on November 21, 2022, the warrant application was filed with the Ansonia/Milford Attorney’s Office. That same day, the Assistant District Attorney rejected the warrant and returned it to Officer Knablin for additional information.”
WTNH reported that Julie Minogue wrote that she was “scared [Dewitt’s] will kill me” before her death. The plaintiff’s family reportedly intends to argue that Dewitt “had a long history of violent behavior towards Ms. Minogue and others who were known, or should have been known, to the proposed defendants.” WFSB reported that Dewitt was serving time in North Carolina after being convicted there in September of molesting another woman.
According to Chief Mello, the “additional information” requested by prosecutors was only added to the warrant application on December 9, after the case was turned over to another detective.
“Under the policy, Officer Knablin was required to gather the information requested by the Assistant District Attorney and resubmit the warrant application as soon as possible. A formal internal investigation has been launched into the timeliness of his response. Officer Knablin has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation into his actions,” Mello added. The top police officer ended his statement by promising to find ways to “improve the forensic GPS surveillance program for domestic violence offenders, including expanding the criteria for their use.”
Attorney Rosnick said Julie Minogue’s family intends to file a lawsuit and bring about lasting change for victims of domestic violence.
“The family intends to use its best efforts to hold accountable those who have failed to fulfill their respective duties,” Rosnick said in a statement. “Furthermore, they hope this case will serve as a means to better protect those at risk of domestic violence and abuse.”
An obituary for Julie Minogue states that she was born in Goshen, New York and worked as a medical assistant for Connecticut Coastal Obstetrics Gynecology.
“She was an avid runner and walker, but her greatest passion was her children. As a single mom, she did a great job raising three boys, which is reflected in her love and devotion for them,” the obituary reads. “Your children have suffered an indescribable loss and will need prayers, care and love. Her life will be remembered in the lives of her children.”
Minogue is survived by her parents, three children, a brother, a sister and numerous extended family members.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Julie’s sister, Allison, said her loved one “was a victim of domestic violence and had made numerous attempts to protect her and her children.”
“Julie spent most of her maternity leave as a single mother. She’s managed to work full-time and take care of her boys with ease and love,” Allison said.
GoFundMe has raised more than $150,000 as of Friday afternoon.
Connecticut Department of Justice records reviewed by Law&Crime show Dewitt is jailed on bail totaling $6,501,000.
A hearing into Dewitt’s pending criminal cases is scheduled for April 6 at 10:00 am. Court documents list the status of the case as “awaiting plea.” According to reports, prosecutors say the defendant has already confessed to killing Minogue.
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https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/ax-murder-victim-and-single-mom-of-3-repeatedly-warned-police-about-violent-ex-she-feared-would-kill-her-lawsuit-will-allege/ Julie Minogue’s family sues cops over ax murder: lawyer
