Latest news with #DominiqueSaunders
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Husband is found not guilty of plotting to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife- after jury heard co-accused spent the money on Benidorm holiday
A husband has been found not guilty of plotting to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife. Paul Lewis, 54, handed £1,500 to his neighbour Dominique Saunders, 35 to allegedly arrange the killing of his wife Joanne Atkinson-Lewis after they broke up. But Saunders scammed the grandfather by splashing the alleged hitman cash on a sunny holiday to Benidorm. The former friends were accused of conspiracy to murder Lewis's wife with bank records showing he withdrew £1,500 hours before Saunders deposited £1,300 into his own account, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard. But a jury took just over two hours to clear the two men following a week-long trial. Lewis's barrister, John Hipkin KC, said the grandfather was 'vulnerable' due to poor mental health and had been scammed by his neighbour. He added that Saunders had 'simply pushed off to Benidorm with the money'. Saunders's own barrister John Harrison KC said his client never had any intention for Atkinson-Lewis to be harmed. He said all he did was to 'make some internet searches and go on holiday to Benidorm'. Mr Harrison added: 'It has always been a scam, never an agreement and he's trying to get away with fifteen hundred quid.' Police launched an investigation after Lewis confessed to his son that he had 'put a hit' on his ex. Prosecutor William Hughes KC said: 'During a conversation Mr Lewis accepted that he entered into an agreement with Mr Saunders to arrange for his ex-wife to be killed. 'Kieran Lewis asked his father: "Have you put a hit out on Joanne?" 'Mr Lewis apparently broke down crying and nodded at his son acknowledging that he had made such an agreement.' Kieran called the police who uncovered the alleged hitman plot thanks to messages between the two men, who lived in the same block of flats in Swansea. Mr Hughes added: 'Mr Lewis entered into an agreement in which he paid Mr Saunders £1,500 which the prosecution say was a fee to arrange for the killing of Joanne Atkinson-Lewis.' Messages between the duo in the following days showed Lewis repeatedly saying he had given Saunders £1,500 'in good faith' and demanding to 'see the Go Pro'. One message from Saunders read: 'Death becomes her.' The jury was told Lewis later messaged Saunders to say he had 'seen Joanne on Aberavon Prom [beach] and she was ok'. Saunders replied: 'Are you 99 per cent sure?' Lewis said: 'I am 100 per cent sure.' A day later, Lewis messaged his neighbour again saying that he wanted 'her out' but the two later fell out as Lewis believed he had been scammed out of his money. One message from Saunders said: 'You mad or what? How have I scammed you? The bloke got your money to do work. I ain't got a thing, so tell me how I scammed you.' Lewis replied: 'She is still breathing. Your story keeps changing. You said there were pictures on your phone, then it was on the GoPro. 'I've not even seen the pictures, you're a liar.' The two men, both of Swansea, denied conspiracy to commit murder and neither gave evidence in their defence, but they were both cleared by a jury on Monday.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- BBC News
Swansea men deny £1.5k hitman plot to kill one's wife
There was "no agreement" between two men accused of conspiring to hire a hit man to kill the estranged wife of one of them, their barristers have Lewis, 54, and Dominique Saunders, 35, who both live in the Maritime Quarter in Swansea, both deny conspiracy to murder Joanne Atkinson-Lewis between February and April prosecution alleges Mr Lewis paid Mr Saunders £1,500 to arrange the murder of his estranged wife Mrs Atkinson-Lewis, although she was never men chose not to give evidence in their trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. Judge Justice Nicklin told the jury they should be sure that both men entered into an agreement to kill Mrs Atkinson-Lewis and there was an intention for that plan "to be carried out".The jury was also told if they believe either man to be innocent of the conspiracy, both must be found "not guilty".Defending Mr Lewis, John Hipkin said the prosecution had ignored that Mr Lewis was mentally ill and had spent some of the time in question on a psychiatric Hipkin said Mr Lewis had paid £1,500 to Mr Saunders but that he had been "scammed" and the money had been spent by Mr Saunders on a holiday to said if the money had been paid to hire a hit man it would be "absolutely ridiculous" that Mr Lewis had contacted the police to complain he had been Hipkin reminded the jury of previous evidence from one witness that Mr Saunders had scammed Mr Lewis in the said the evidence in the case surrounded a "mentally unwell man and a scammer, a fraudster". Defending Mr Saunders, John Harrison said his client was known as "dippy dominique" and incapable of arranging a hit said if the case "wasn't so serious for the defendants it would be funny"."There is no evidence he was a hit man full-time, part-time or any time", he Harrison told the jury his client had taken advantage of Mr Lewis when he was vulnerable by scamming him and taking the said Mr Saunders "may be worthy of condemnation" but it was not evidence of an agreement to kill Mrs Harrison said Mr Saunders did not do anything "because there was no agreement between them and he had no intention to do anything about killing Joanne Atkinson-Lewis".He said "it has always been a scam, never an agreement and he's trying to get away with fifteen hundred quid". Prosecutor William Hughes directed the jury to messages which had been exchanged between the two men and claimed they "clearly state the defendants had entered a criminal agreement to kill Joanne Atkinson-Lewis". Mr Hughes said there had been regular requests from Mr Lewis asking if there was "any news?", alongside asking to be able to view the contents of a go-pro message sent by Mr Lewis said "death becomes her".Mr Hughes also referred to messages which stated Mr Lewis had "seen Joanne on Aberavon beach and she looked ok".Mr Saunders replied asking if he was later messages, Mr Lewis said "I paid £1,500 in good faith" and "I'm starting to wonder if I've been scammed out of fifteen hundred pounds".When Mr Saunders asked "how have I scammed you?", he received a message saying "she is still breathing".Mr Hughes also reminded the jury of evidence heard from Mr Lewis' son asking if he had "taken out a hit on Joanne" to which he had nodded. The judge told the jury they needed to consider if there was an agreement "that both intended to honour".He asked "did both defendants intend Joanne Atkinson-Lewis to be killed?" and "are you sure Saunders ever intended to carry out his side of any bargain?".The jury in the trial have retired to consider their verdict.
The Sun
26-06-2025
- The Sun
Neighbour ‘took £1.5k to hire hitman to kill pal's wife… before he ditched job and spent cash on Benidorm hols'
A NEIGHBOUR scammed a husband by taking £1,500 to pay for a hitman to kill his wife which he splashed on jetting off to Benidorm, a court heard. Paul Lewis, 54, is accused of paying the money to his neighbour to arrange the killing of his estranged wife after the pair split two years earlier. 4 4 Dominique Saunders, 35, allegedly told Lewis that the job was done and said there were photos and GoPro footage of the killing to prove it. But Lewis, a former steelworker from Swansea, was stunned to find his ex, Joanne Atkinson-Lewis, "still breathing" at a nearby beach. Saunders, known locally as "Dippy Dom", was allegedly stringing Lewis along before splashing the cash on a Benidorm holiday. Lewis' barrister, John Hipkin KC, told the court the grandfather was "vulnerable" due to his poor mental health and had been scammed by his neighbour. Mr Hipkin said Saunders had "simply pushed off to Benidorm with the money". Saunders' own barrister John Harrison KC said Saunders never had any intention for Joanne to be harmed. All he did was "make some internet searches and go on holiday to Benidorm", he said. Prosecutor William Hughes KC said cops launched an investigation after Lewis confessed he had "put a hit" on his ex to his son, Kieran. Mr Hughes said: "During a conversation Mr Lewis accepted that he entered into an agreement with Mr Saunders to arrange for his ex-wife to be killed. "Kieran Lewis asked his father: 'Have you put a hit out on Joanne?' "Mr Lewis apparently broke down crying and nodded at his son acknowledging that he had made such an agreement." Lewis' son Kieran called the police on his dad who uncovered the alleged hitman plot in messages between the two men, who lived in the same block of flats in Swansea. Hughes said the messages revealed that: "Mr Lewis entered into an agreement in which he paid Mr Saunders £1,500 which the prosecution say was a fee to arrange for the killing of Joanne Atkinson-Lewis." Hughes added that financial information showed Lewis withdrew £1,500 from his bank in Swansea and on the same day Saunders deposited a sum of £1,300 into his own account. Horror moment tree surgeon bites off EAR of 'bar-room bore' and spits it on the floor in gruesome pub brawl Messages between the two men in the following days showed Lewis repeatedly saying he had given Saunders £1,500 "in good faith" and demanded to "see the Go Pro". One message from Saunders read: "Death becomes her." The jury was told that Lewis later messaged Saunders to say he had "seen Joanne on Aberavon Prom and she was ok." Saunders replied: "Are you 99 per cent sure?" Lewis confirmed: "I am 100 per cent sure." A day later Lewis messaged his neighbour again saying: "I want her out." The two later fell out after Lewis believed he had been scammed from his money. One message from Saunders said: "You mad or what? How have I scammed you? "The bloke got your money to do work, I ain't got a thing so tell me how I scammed you." Lewis replied: "She is still breathing. "Your story keeps changing. You said there were pictures on your phone, then it was on the GoPro. "I've not even seen the pictures, you're a liar." Prosecutor Hughes said: "Those series of messages clearly demonstrate Mr Lewis and Mr Saunders entered into a criminal agreement where Mr Lewis agreed to pay and did pay Mr Saunders £1,500 to facilitate the murder of Joanne Atkinson-Lewis. "A reasonable interpretation is that Mr Saunders led Mr Lewis to believe he had paid a hitman to carry out the act and he had photographs on his phone or on his GoPro device. "However once Paul Lewis saw his ex-wife was still alive and breathing on Aberavon Beach he realised the criminal agreement he made with Dominque Saunders hadn't been carried out." The two men from Swansea both deny conspiracy to commit murder and one cannot be found guilty without the other. Neither chose to give evidence in their defence. The trial before judge Mr Justice Nicklin will continue at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. 4 4
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Vengeful husband paid neighbour £1,500 to organise assassination of his ex-wife after she divorced him, court told
A vengeful husband paid a neighbour £1,500 to organise the assassination of his ex-wife after she divorced him, a court heard. Paul Lewis, 54, allegedly plotted to hire the hitman to execute his estranged wife of 10 years, Joanne Atkinson-Lewis, over divorce proceedings two years earlier. Former steelworker Lewis is accused of handing neighbour Dominique Saunders, 35, the £1,500 cash 'in good faith' to arrange the assassination. A court heard Saunders told Lewis there were photos and GoPro footage of the murder - and Lewis repeatedly asked to see it. But Lewis was stunned when weeks later he saw Joanne 'still breathing' at a nearby beach. Prosecutor William Hughes KC said police were called after Lewis allegedly confessed the murder plot to his son Kieran and his girlfriend Sydney West. Mr Hughes said: 'During a conversation Mr Lewis accepted that he entered into an agreement with Mr Saunders to arrange for his ex-wife to be killed. 'Kieran Lewis asked his father: "Have you put a hit out on Joanne?". 'Mr Lewis apparently broke down crying and nodded at his son acknowledging that he had made such an agreement.' Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Miss West then confronted Saunders at his flat - and told him to return the money. But Saunders allegedly told her he 'had already given the money to someone else and couldn't give the money back.' Mr Hughes said Miss West asked Lewis: 'Do you understand you have paid someone to take someone's mother away? Paul Lewis replied 'yeah I know'.' Son Kieran called police who uncovered the alleged hitman plot in messages between the two men who lived in the same block of flats in Swansea. Mr Hughes said the messages revealed: 'Mr Lewis entered into an agreement in which he paid Mr Saunders £1,500 which the prosecution say was a fee to arrange for the killing of Joanne Atkinson-Lewis.' Mr Hughes said financial information showed Lewis withdrew £1,500 from his bank in Swansea and on the same day Saunders deposited a sum of £1,300 into his own account. Messages between the two men in the following days showed Lewis repeatedly saying he had given Saunders £1,500 'in good faith' and demanding to 'see the Go Pro' showing the alleged hit had been carried out. One message from Saunders read: 'Death becomes her.' The jury was told Lewis later messaged Saunders to say he had 'seen Joanne on Aberavon Prom and she was ok.' Saunders replied: 'Are you 99 per cent sure?' Lewis said: 'I am 100 per cent sure.' A day later Lewis messaged his neighbour again saying: 'I want her out.' Mr Hughes said the two men fell out after Lewis believed he had been scammed of his money and failed to collect Saunders from the airport following a holiday. One message from Saunders said: 'You mad or what? How have I scammed you? The bloke got your money to do work. I ain't got a thing so tell me how I scammed you.' Lewis replied: 'She is still breathing. Your story keeps changing. You said there were pictures on your phone, then it was on the GoPro. 'I've not even seen the pictures you're a liar.' Mr Hughes said: 'Those series of messages clearly demonstrate, we, say, Mr Lewis and Mr Saunders entered into a criminal agreement where Mr Lewis agreed to pay and did pay Mr Saunders £1,500 to facilitate the murder of Joanne Atkinson-Lewis. 'A reasonable interpretation is that Mr Saunders led Mr Lewis to believe he had paid a hitman to carry out the act and he had photographs on his phone or on his GoPro device. 'However once Paul Lewis saw his ex-wife was still alive and breathing on Aberavon Beach he realised the criminal agreement he made with Dominque Saunders hadn't been carried out.' The two men, both of Swansea, deny conspiracy to commit murder. The trial before judge Mr Justice Nicklin continues at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Telegraph
Husband ‘paid £1,500 for hitman to kill estranged wife'
A husband paid £1,500 for a hitman to kill his estranged wife, a court has heard. Paul Lewis allegedly plotted to hire an assassin to murder Joanne Atkinson-Lewis following divorce proceedings. The 54-year-old former steelworker is accused of giving the cash to his neighbour Dominique Saunders, 35, to arrange the hit. Mr Saunders informed him the assassination had been successful, only for Mr Lewis to see his estranged wife alive and well at a nearby beach weeks later, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard The court was told that Mr Lewis and Mr Saunders, who lived in the same block of flats in Swansea, arranged the plot over text messages. 'Mr Lewis entered into an agreement in which he paid Mr Saunders £1,500, which the prosecution say was a fee to arrange for the killing of Joanne Atkinson-Lewis,' said prosecutor William Hughes. Bank statements from the pair showed that Mr Lewis withdrew £1,500 from his bank, and on the same day Mr Saunders deposited a sum of £1,300 into his own account. Messages between the two men in the following days showed Mr Lewis repeatedly saying that he had given Mr Saunders £1,500 'in good faith'. He also demanded to 'see the Go Pro' footage after Mr Saunders claimed there was photographic evidence of the murder. One message from Mr Saunders read: 'Death becomes her.' But the jury was told Mr Lewis later texted Mr Saunders to inform him that he had 'seen Joanne on Aberavon Prom and she was OK'. Mr Saunders replied: 'Are you 99 per cent sure?' Mr Lewis said: 'I am 100 per cent sure.' A day later, Mr Lewis messaged his neighbour again, saying: 'I want her out.' Mr Hughes said the two men soon fell out, with Mr Lewis accusing Mr Saunders of having cheated him. One message from Mr Saunders said: 'You mad or what? How have I scammed you? The bloke got your money to do work. I ain't got a thing so tell me how I scammed you.' Mr Lewis replied: 'She is still breathing. Your story keeps changing. You said there were pictures on your phone, then it was on the GoPro. I've not even seen the pictures you're a liar.' The pair's plot unravelled when Mr Lewis confessed what he had done to his son Kieran and his girlfriend Sydney West, the prosecutor said. Mr Hughes said: 'During a conversation Mr Lewis accepted that he entered into an agreement with Mr Saunders to arrange for his ex-wife to be killed. 'Kieran Lewis asked his father: 'Have you put a hit out on Joanne?' Mr Lewis apparently broke down crying and nodded at his son, acknowledging that he had made such an agreement.' Police were called, and the court heard that Ms West then confronted Mr Saunders at his flat and told him to return the money. Mr Saunders allegedly told her he 'had already given the money to someone else and couldn't give the money back'. Mr Hughes said Ms West asked Mr Lewis: 'Do you understand you have paid someone to take someone's mother away? Paul Lewis replied 'yeah I know'.' The two men deny conspiracy to commit murder.
