Ewen Dewitt, a Connecticut resident, caused a stir in court just before he was handed a lengthy prison sentence for the brutal murder of his former girlfriend with an ax. Dewitt, 45, admitted to the charges of murder and risk of injury to a child in connection with the 2022 killing of Julie Minogue in her Milford home. The sentencing took place on a Thursday, during which Dewitt became visibly upset as prosecutor Margaret Kelly presented her case.
A video clip shared by a local NBC affiliate in New Haven showed court officers rushing to Dewitt as he attempted to rise from his seat. The officers ordered him to sit down, but Dewitt responded with a string of expletives, which the television station censored. According to WTNH, an ABC affiliate, Dewitt interrupted Kelly’s description of the murder as “cold, calculated” with a crude remark, prompting a warning from the court to watch his language.
The judge reminded Dewitt of the need for decorum in the courtroom, warning him that continued outbursts would result in his removal. Dewitt’s response was dismissive, but the judge chose to proceed with the hearing after Dewitt, surrounded by deputies, regained his composure. Dewitt later apologized to the court for his behavior, attributing it to a momentary loss of control, as reported by CT Insider.
The conclusion of the criminal proceedings brought some relief to Minogue’s family. Gerald Minogue, Julie’s father, expressed his family’s relief to WVIT, acknowledging that while the pain of their loss would persist, they were glad to see the end of the criminal case.
In addition to the criminal charges, Minogue’s family has also filed a lawsuit against the Milford police and the city. The lawsuit stems from the events leading up to Minogue’s murder. Her 17-year-old son was the one who dialed 911 on the night of December 6, 2022, reporting that Dewitt had attacked and killed his mother with an ax. Minogue’s 3-year-old son was also present during the attack, as confirmed by the family’s attorney in the civil case, Michael Rosnick.
The murder took place five days after Minogue was granted a full no-contact restraining order against Dewitt, following a complaint that he had sent her harassing text messages. Dewitt was arrested in a trailer in West Haven hours after the murder and was charged with multiple felonies, including murder, home invasion, criminal violation of a standing protective order, criminal violation of a restraining order, and risk of injury to a child.
The Milford Police Department has faced criticism for its handling of the case, particularly Officer Scott Knablin, who was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into his handling of a warrant application that was not completed until after Minogue’s death. Knablin later resigned, and the lawsuit is still ongoing.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Julie’s sister, Allison, revealed that Julie was a victim of domestic violence and had made several attempts to protect herself and her children. Allison described Julie as a dedicated single mother who balanced full-time work and caring for her children with love and dedication.