Man jailed for life over Reigate cricket bat murder

Guy Douglas Unmack, 46, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 19 years today (June 24) after he was found guilty of murdering his elderly neighbour last summer.

Rosemary was a retired musician and a well-known figure in her community. She was cutting sprigs of rosemary from a neighbour’s garden when she was attacked by Unmack on June 21, 2020.

"Without warning, she was approached by Unmack who hit her over the back of the head with a cricket bat, causing her to fall to the ground unconscious.

"Witnesses described it as a completely unprovoked attack," a statement from Surrey Police read.

Guy Douglas Unmack, jailed for life after murdering Rosemary Hill in Reigate. Image: Surrey Police

Rosemary was taken to hospital where she sadly died four days later. A post-mortem examination recorded her cause of death as a severe blunt force head injury.

Rosemary's children said that her tragic death has caused them to lose what should have been happy family time together: "A life full of caring and enabling other people to achieve their full potential was cruelly cut short."

Unmack was arrested shortly after the attack on suspicion of attempted murder and was later charged and tried, having previously being sectioned under the Mental Health Act following the attack.

Following the sentence, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Rimmer said: "Rosemary Hill’s murder shocked the local community, and left those who knew her bereft.

"Her family are devastated following her death and our thoughts remain with them at this extremely difficult time.

"While nothing can bring Mrs Hill back, I hope that the trial and sentence today will give them some form of closure."