The Ansonia-Milford State’s Attorney on Friday made an offer of 45 years in prison to the man accused of using an ax to kill the mother of his 3-year-old son while that child and an older brother were home. In exchange, Ewen Dewitt, 44, would plead guilty to murder and risk of injury to a child. The offer in Milford Superior Court came nearly two years after a violent assault left Julie Minogue’s three sons without a mother.

On the night of Dec. 6, 2022, Milford police said Ewen Dewitt stormed Minogue's condo at Salem Walk and attacked her with an ax while her two youngest boys, ages 3 and 17, were home.

“I do want to indicate for the record that while I believe the family certainly understands my offer, they are not in total agreement with that offer. They would've liked to have seen additional time offered. The state's offer is 45 years to serve,” State’s Attorney Margaret E. Kelley told the judge.

Dewitt’s defense attorney John Walkley said he and co-counsel shared the offer with their client before court and would be meeting with him next week to talk about it. Walkey anticipated Dewitt would have an answer on whether he’d accept or reject the deal at the next court appearance, Oct. 25. Walkley previously said Dewitt wanted to resolve the case without going to trial.

Minogue’s father, Gerald Minogue, who’s been at every hearing, was at court Friday, along with his daughter’s best friend, Tricia O’Reilly.

“I'm anxious to get justice and as rapidly as we possibly can,” Gerald Minogue told News 12 after the brief hearing, but he noted no number of years would make up for his daughter’s life, including what was offered.

“It's very hard for me to sit there and say that that's acceptable. Do I, you know, know where the state is coming from? I do. And while I can't say that I'm 100% happy with that number, I'll have to live with it at this point,” he stated.

The offer marks progress in the case, which had stalled for several months as the defense waited for a long-delayed psychiatric report on Dewitt. Gerald Minogue said his three grandsons, now ages 23, 19, and 5, are doing OK but miss their mother. He noted Minogue’s oldest son just got engaged, marking the latest milestone she’s missed.

“There's been birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings, now engagements with her son, and many many other things,” Gerald Minogue said, “But, you know, she's been here in spirit. I can tell you that.”

At the time of her death, Minogue had a protective order against Dewitt for a pending assault case from 2019. She'd also recently been granted a restraining order after Dewitt allegedly sent her 220 text messages, including threats. In filing for it, she wrote: "I am scared for the safety of my children and I. Ewen has got himself into a lot of trouble with drugs and alcohol and I'm scared he's going to kill me."

Minogue had brought her concerns to police just three weeks before her murder. The officer who handled her report submitted an arrest warrant for Dewitt to the state's attorney's office, but it was sent back seeking more information about the texts and then never resubmitted. Dewitt wasn’t charged with harassment and violation of a protective order until after Minogue’s murder.

The officer who initially took her complaint, Scott Knablin, was the focus of an internal investigation by the police department and resigned in July 2023.

In June, Gerald Minogue filed a lawsuit against the city of Milford and the police department on behalf his daughter’s estate alleging negligence and carelessness in her death.

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