NEIGHBOURS of a York mother beaten to death by blind epileptic Anthony O'Connell today reacted to news of his death.

The killing of Polish-born Krystyna Walton, 48, at O'Connell's home in Bouthwaite Drive, Acomb, in 1998, sent shockwaves through the community.

O'Connell had repeatedly punched Mrs Walton in the face in a drunken rage and bitten her 17 times - at least twice after she had died.

Neighbours who knew Mrs Walton, who lived in nearby Sowerby Road, reacted angrily when O'Connell was given a three-year probation order for the killing in 1999.

O'Connell, 37, walked free from Armley Jail, in Leeds, earlier this year just days after being given a 12-month prison term for breaching the probation order. He was freed because of the time he had already spent in custody on remand.

He died of natural causes on Sunday in the Cookridge area of Leeds.

Today, neighbours of Mrs Walton's gave their reaction to his death.

Michelle Clayton, Mrs Walton's next-door neighbour, said: "He certainly won't be missed by anyone around here. I know you shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but I can't think of anything good to say about him. Krystyna is still badly missed by us all and we still talk about her all the time."

Doreen Kelly, who lives in Sowerby Road and knew Mrs Walton and O'Connell, said: "He didn't deserve to die, but he should have been put away for life for what he did. I think a lot of people will be glad he's gone."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I think it is a bit of justice. He got what was coming to him. He deserves it after what he did."

Mrs Walton's son, Krystian Milke, who lives at Acomb, could not be contacted.

Updated: 12:30 Saturday, October 06, 2001