'Frankly borders on the incredible': Judge stunned that psych report for suspect in ax murder of mom of 3 has taken longer than Sandy Hook massacre investigation

Julie Minogue (pictured left) in an obituary photo; accused ax murderer Ewen Dewitt (pictured right) in a Milford Police Department photo.

Even though prosecutors and a public defender have suggested that the gruesome 2022 ax slaying of a Connecticut mom of three could ultimately end with a plea deal, the sides reportedly told a flabbergasted state judge on Thursday that they’re in holding pattern until the murder defendant’s psychiatric report is finished.

On the night of Dec. 6, 2022, 40-year-old Julie Minogue was at home in Milford when her ex-boyfriend, 44-year-old Ewen Dewitt, allegedly violated a protective order and murdered her with an ax in front of their 3-year-old son. Minogue’s older son, 17 at the time, was the one who called 911.

Dewitt, of Roxbury, was arrested in a trailer in West Haven hours later on felony charges of 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 said.

In the aftermath, as Law&Crime reported, Minogue’s family began pursuing a civil lawsuit , as the extremely violent killing occurred just five days after Minogue was “granted a full no contact Restraining Order against the suspect following a complaint that the suspect sent her harassing text messages.” The number of texts over a two-day span in November 2022 allegedly surpassed 200. Worse yet, Minogue had reportedly written in a court filing before her death that she was “afraid [Dewitt’s] going to kill me.”

Since Dewitt’s arrest, however, case progress has stalled due to a lag in Dewitt’s psych report, frustrating the prosecutors in the State’s Attorney’s Office, the judge, and the defense, since there has been some talk of a possible plea deal, as the Connecticut Post reported on the details of the Thursday hearing in Superior Court.

During the hearing, Judge Kevin Russo reportedly condemned the delays as “inexcusable,” commenting that it “frankly borders on the incredible,” as in unbelievable — especially in light of the fact that a report on the Sandy Hook massacre was finished quicker.

“It took 11 months to generate and file a report on the Sandy Hook massacre, which involved 26 deceased adults and children, and now we’re on 16 months to generate a report that involves one individual and one criminal event,” the judge reportedly said, urging the case forward. “Really hard to wrap my head around that timeline. It really is.”

Gene Zingaro, an attorney for Minogue’s father Gerald Minogue, similarly expressed dismay over the status of the case, hinting that he would use stronger words than “incredible,” the report said.

In an interview prior to the hearing , the victim’s father called it “disturbing” that the case is taking so long to move ahead due to “slow-walked” psych reports.

Law&Crime reached out to attorney Zingaro for additional comment.

An obituary for Julie Minogue said 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 were her children. As a single mother she did a tremendous job raising three boys which is reflected in their love and dedication to her,” the obituary said. “Her children have suffered a loss beyond words and will require prayers, care, and love. Her life will be memorialized in the lives of her children.”

Dewitt remains behind bars on a $6,501,000 bond, Connecticut Department of Correction records reviewed by Law&Crime show. He has pleaded not guilty.

The post ‘Frankly borders on the incredible’: Judge stunned that psych report for suspect in ax murder of mom of 3 has taken longer than Sandy Hook massacre investigation first appeared on Law & Crime .