Woman who claimed she killed lodger in self-defence found guilty of his murder

Arabnews24.ca:Thursday 1 December 2022 01:27 PM: A woman who claimed she killed her lodger in self-defence has been found guilty of his murder. 

Dawn Lewis told jurors she was stabbed in the leg by Glenn Richards during an argument, and managed to grab his knife and use it against him to stop the attack.

But detectives became suspicious of her account after the doctor who treated her leg wounds suggested they were self-inflicted.

Appearing at Bristol Crown Court, 54-year-old Lewis claimed Mr Richards fell down the stairs of her Glastonbury home during the incident, allowing her to grab the knife he had attacked her with, preventing him from continuing.

After hearing all the evidence during a three-week trial, jurors rejected Lewis's account and concluded she'd in fact planned to murder the 61-year-old.

The trial had heard that an associate of Lewis's told officers she'd spoken to him before the attack, telling him she wanted Mr Richards to move out of her house.

He said that during the video call with her, just hours before the incident, she'd showed him a knife and spoke of stabbing Mr Richards in his bedroom before wounding herself to claim self-defence.

Jury had 'no choice' but to find her guilty

During their investigation, officers also found aggressive voicemails left by Lewis and text messages between the pair, casting doubt on her version of events.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Neil Meade said after the verdict: "Dawn Lewis claimed she feared Glenn Richards and was worried what he'd to do to her as his mental health was deteriorating.

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"After deciding she no longer wanted him to lodge with her, she concocted a plan she thought would allow her to get away with his murder."

He added that evidence given during the trial was "compelling", leaving the jury "no choice" but to reject her "lies".

DI Meade said that Mr Richards had been estranged from his sons for a number of years but had recently begun to reconnect with them.

He added: "They were due to meet up in the near future but Lewis's actions robbed them of this opportunity."

Specialist officers have continued to support Mr Richards' family, including his two sons.

Lewis was remanded into custody after the verdict ahead of her sentencing hearing on Friday.