Man Sentenced to Life for Murder of Dog Walker in Kent

Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss, 21, attacked and killed Claire Knights, 54, in an unprovoked assault near Minnis Bay in August 2023.

Claire Knights, a 54-year-old mother and artist, was ambushed and murdered while walking her dog near a Kent beach in August 2023.
The perpetrator, Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss, sexually assaulted Ms. Knights before killing her and concealing her body in a dyke.
Van-Pooss was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to murder and a separate upskirting offense committed the day before.
The court heard that Van-Pooss feigned psychotic behavior after the crime and was diagnosed with a personality disorder, though his actions were deemed unprovoked and deliberate.
The murder has sparked widespread concern over the safety of women walking alone, with prosecutors emphasizing the need to address male violence against women.