Following a six-week trial at Inner London Crown Court, a woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years for murder. A man was also sentenced to 16 months in prison for perverting the course of justice.
Hope Rowe, 33, stabbed Charlotte Lawlor as she was leaving a child’s birthday party, after they had argued earlier in the evening. Ms Rowe used a knife she had taken from the party. Ms Rowe argued at trial that she had suffered a loss of self-control, and also that her responsibility was diminished because of her personality disorder. But prosecutor Charlotte Newell KC told the court: “She acted in anger and out of revenge, she understood clearly what she was doing and the consequences of it.” Ms Rowe was driven away from the scene by her partner Leigh Holder, 37, who helped her dispose of the murder weapon.
The jury unanimously found Ms Rowe guilty of murder and Mr Holder guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Charlotte Newell KC leading William Davis was instructed by CPS Homicide for the Crown.
News: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/woman-jailed-murder-birthday-cake-knife-b1237225.html
