Latest news with #LeighHolder
The Sun
21 hours ago
- The Sun
Woman, 32, convicted of stabbing mum, 31, to death in front of her child at birthday party
A WOMAN has been found guilty of brutally stabbing a mother to death at a London house party. Hope Rowe, 33, attacked Charlotte Lawlor with a knife at a property in Stepney Green, east London, on September 15 last year. 5 5 Emergency services found Ms Lawlor in the foyer of the tower block just before 2am. Charlotte Lawlor suffered multiple stab wounds at the hands of Rowe with some of the victim's friends and family witnessing the brutal attack. Tragically, despite the best efforts of medical staff, Lawlor passed away from her injuries. Inner London Crown Court heard that Rowe stabbed Lawlor following an argument and then fled the scene in a car with her partner, Leigh Holder, 37. Armed cops caught up with the fleeing vehicle shortly after 2:10am and discovered only Leigh Holder inside. He told cops that Rowe had jumped out of the car shortly after fleeing the crime scene and claimed he didn't know where she was. The court heard that Rowe left a voicemail on Holder's phone as they drove away together, which recorded her telling him that it was 'good' she had killed Ms Lawlor, before Holder instructed her to dispose of the knife and to avoid the police. The knife used to kill Lawlor has never been found despite the best efforts of police. In the early morning the following day the court heard Rowe went to Bethnal Green Police Station where she was arrested on suspicion of murder. She provided no comment during a police interview and later claimed her actions were due to a momentary loss of control. On Friday, a jury at the London court found Rowe guilty of murder and Holder guilty of perverting the course of justice. Rowe and her partner Holder will be sentenced at the court on July 9. 5 5 Det Sgt Dean Musgrove, from the Met Police's specialist crime north unit, said: 'Hope Rowe launched a brutal attack on Charlotte Lawlor at what should have been a joyous occasion. 'Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends, who will have to contend not only with the loss of a loved one, but with the trauma of having witnessed the killing. 'As if the killing was not senseless enough, Rowe then tried to deceive investigators, disposing of the knife before turning herself in. 'It still has not been found to this day, and both Rowe and her partner were incriminated by a voicemail accidentally recorded on Rowe's phone.' The victims parents said in a statement they were 'happy' with the verdict, adding: 'We would like to thank the jury for their attention during the trial. 'The family will never get over the loss and murder of Charlotte. It has destroyed us, leaving a gaping hole. "Charlotte's son, Riley, has been left without a mum, and siblings without their older sister and best friend. Charlotte brought light to everyone's life.' 5
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Woman, 33, stabbed mother to death at a child's birthday party
A woman who fatally stabbed a mother at a child's birthday party has been found guilty of murder. Hope Rowe, 33, attacked Charlotte Lawlor with a knife at a property in Stepney Green, east London, on Sept 15 last year. Emergency workers found Ms Lawlor, 31, in the foyer of the tower block in Tower Hamlets just before 2am with multiple stab injuries, after an attack witnessed by some of her family, children and guests at the party. Inner London Crown Court heard how Ms Lawlor had been stabbed by Rowe following an argument at the party. Rowe then drove away from the scene with her partner, Leigh Holder, 37. At around 2.10am, Holder's vehicle was stopped by armed police in Tower Hamlets. He told officers Rowe had jumped out shortly after leaving the crime scene, claiming he had no knowledge of her location. However, the court heard that Rowe left a voicemail on Holder's phone as they drove away together, which recorded her telling him that it was 'good' she had killed Ms Lawlor, before Holder instructed Rowe to dispose of the knife and to avoid the police. The knife was never found. At 7am the following day, the court heard Rowe went to Bethnal Green Police Station, where she was arrested on suspicion of murder. During a police interview, she provided no comment, and later claimed her actions were due to a momentary loss of control. On Friday, a jury at the London court found Rowe guilty of murder and Holder guilty of perverting the course of justice. Det Sgt Dean Musgrove, from the Met Police's specialist crime north unit, said: 'Hope Rowe launched a brutal attack on Charlotte Lawlor at what should have been a joyous occasion. 'Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends, who will have to contend not only with the loss of a loved one, but with the trauma of having witnessed the killing. 'As if the killing was not senseless enough, Rowe then tried to deceive investigators, disposing of the knife before turning herself in. 'It still has not been found to this day, and both Rowe and her partner were incriminated by a voicemail accidentally recorded on Rowe's phone.' In a statement, the victim's parents said they were 'happy' with the verdict, adding: 'We would like to thank the jury for their attention during the trial. 'The family will never get over the loss and murder of Charlotte. It has destroyed us, leaving a gaping hole. Charlotte's son, Riley, has been left without a mum, and siblings without their older sister and best friend. Charlotte brought light to everyone's life.' Rowe and Holder will be sentenced at the court on July 9. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Woman, 33, stabbed mother to death at a child's birthday party
A woman who fatally stabbed a mother at a child's birthday party has been found guilty of murder. Hope Rowe, 33, attacked Charlotte Lawlor with a knife at a property in Stepney Green, east London, on Sept 15 last year. Emergency workers found Ms Lawlor, 31, in the foyer of the tower block in Tower Hamlets just before 2am with multiple stab injuries, after an attack witnessed by some of her family, children and guests at the party. Inner London Crown Court heard how Ms Lawlor had been stabbed by Rowe following an argument at the party. Rowe then drove away from the scene with her partner, Leigh Holder, 37. At around 2.10am, Holder's vehicle was stopped by armed police in Tower Hamlets. He told officers Rowe had jumped out shortly after leaving the crime scene, claiming he had no knowledge of her location. However, the court heard that Rowe left a voicemail on Holder's phone as they drove away together, which recorded her telling him that it was 'good' she had killed Ms Lawlor, before Holder instructed Rowe to dispose of the knife and to avoid the police. The knife was never found. At 7am the following day, the court heard Rowe went to Bethnal Green Police Station, where she was arrested on suspicion of murder. During a police interview, she provided no comment, and later claimed her actions were due to a momentary loss of control. On Friday, a jury at the London court found Rowe guilty of murder and Holder guilty of perverting the course of justice. Det Sgt Dean Musgrove, from the Met Police's specialist crime north unit, said: 'Hope Rowe launched a brutal attack on Charlotte Lawlor at what should have been a joyous occasion. 'Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends, who will have to contend not only with the loss of a loved one, but with the trauma of having witnessed the killing. 'As if the killing was not senseless enough, Rowe then tried to deceive investigators, disposing of the knife before turning herself in. 'It still has not been found to this day, and both Rowe and her partner were incriminated by a voicemail accidentally recorded on Rowe's phone.' In a statement, the victim's parents said they were 'happy' with the verdict, adding: 'We would like to thank the jury for their attention during the trial. 'The family will never get over the loss and murder of Charlotte. It has destroyed us, leaving a gaping hole. Charlotte's son, Riley, has been left without a mum, and siblings without their older sister and best friend. Charlotte brought light to everyone's life.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Woman who stabbed mother-of-one to death at child's birthday party is convicted of murder after police found key detail on her own phone
A woman who stabbed a mother-of-one to death at a child's birthday party has been convicted of murder after police found a chilling voicemail on her phone. Hope Rowe, 33, from Aldgate, east London, launched a fatal knife attack on Charlotte Lawlor, 31, at a property in Stepney Green at around 1am on September 15 last year. Jurors at London Crown Court heard that Rowe had been 'spoiling for a fight' when she confronted Ms Lawlor and accused her of hiding her keys, before leaving the flat with the knife used to cut the child's birthday cake. Ms Lawlor, who 'just wanted to go home' during the confrontation, was leaving the property to get a taxi home when Rowe leaned around her 'MMA-expert' boyfriend and stabbed her in the chest - footage of which was played in court. Rowe blamed personality disorder and said she had no memory of the stabbing before later accusing Ms Lawlor of threatening to kill her and hurt another child at the party. But prosecutor Charlotte Newell KC said Rowe's defence was 'fanciful' and an 'invention'. Rowe's boyfriend Leigh Holder, 37, was also convicted of perverting the course of justice after driving her away from the scene, helping to dispose of the knife and throwing armed police off the scent. MyLondon revealed Holder was previously jailed for nine years for stabbing a man on the Regent's Canal towpath over a money dispute in an attack described as a 'horrific' by a detective at the time. And it was a key piece of evidence between Rowe and Holder that helped police land the convictions. A voicemail exchange revealed Rowe's pleasure at Ms Lawlor's death. When Holder told her 'You absolute idiot, you killed her', Rowe replied: 'Good.' Officers also heard Holder instructing Rowe to dispose of the knife and to avoid police. Rowe claimed that she was stabbed in the head with a key, causing her to pour with blood that triggered emotions about a past miscarriage. But Ms Newell said it was 'a lie used to justify her actions and get away with murder'. She added: 'She attacked her in revenge for disrespecting her and getting the better of her in a fight that she incited... She did not like the way Charlotte Lawlor stood up to her and spoke to her.' Rowe followed Ms Lawlor 'to attempt to inflict more wounds' after stabbing her in the chest before escaping with Holder in his four-by-four, disposing the murder weapon and making efforts to conceal the crime. Holder was stopped by police marksmen later that night, but lied about Rowe jumping out of the car and claimed he had no knowledge of her location. Rowe later wrote to a family member on TikTok to say she was 'so, so sorry'. Jurors heard the recipient replied 'It's dine [sic]', to which Rowe said 'It's not, this is bad, I'm going to be in trouble'. The murderer handed herself into Bethnal Green Police Station at 7am on the day of the attack, where video footage showed her asking police to clarify 'Is it attempted murder, or murder?'. She admitted manslaughter before the trial, so jurors were asked to choose between two psychiatric experts: one of whom said personality disorder had impaired Rowe's ability to exercise self-control, and the other, who did not find any substantial impairment. Rowe's partial defence of 'loss of control' flew in the face of the CCTV footage, which showed her using Holder as a shield so she could reach around him and plunge the knife into Ms Lawlor. Ms Lawlor died within an hour of paramedics arriving after reports of the attack. Her funeral was held at Islington and St Pancras Cemetery last October and drew hundreds of friends and family members. The moving service included poetry and a video of Ms Lawlor and her young son who recorded a note to say 'Love you mum. I'm gonna miss you.' Her parents said in a statement today: 'We are happy with the verdict. We would like to thank the jury for their attention during the trial. 'The family will never get over the loss and murder of Charlotte. It has destroyed us, leaving a gaping hole. Charlotte's son, Riley, has been left without a mum, and siblings without their older sister and best friend. 'Charlotte brought light to everyone's life.' Rowe and Holder will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on July 9.
