Latest news with #JoannaRowlandStuart
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Transgender woman, 71, killed partner with sword, jury finds
A jury has found that a transgender woman killed her Rowland-Stuart, 71, was charged with murdering Andrew Rowland-Stuart, 70, at their home in Brighton in May a psychiatric assessment, Ms Rowland-Stuart was deemed unfit to a trial of facts at Lewes Crown Court, a jury agreed that Ms Rowland-Stuart did commit the act and she was given an indefinite Hospital Order Under Section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Ms Rowland-Stuart, who identifies as a transgender woman, and Mr Rowland-Stuart, known as Andy, had a civil partnership in 2006.A post mortem concluded that he died from stab wounds and the trial previously heard that she killed him with a samurai previously told police that she had acted in self defence at his flat in Lavender Street on 27 May 2024. Recovered internet searches from Ms Rowland-Stuart's phone in the weeks before the death showed 14 results for swords, including replica swords, curved swords, samurai curved swords, Japanese swords and Japanese sword names, the court was previously Rowland-Stuart was ruled unfit to plead by Judge Christine Laing KC on Monday, so did not take part in the trial.A statement released on behalf of Mr Rowland-Stuart's family said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved with this case over the past year."To DC Anna Stacey for her care and communication with the family while we were in England and back home in New Zealand, and to Andrew's Sussex 4x4 family, especially Jason, who helped us immensely while we were there."Det Ch Insp Alex Campbell, from Sussex Police, said: "Our thoughts remain with the family of Andrew and we want to thank everyone who has assisted us in this complex investigation."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Brighton wife said 'I had no choice' after killing, jury told
A woman who allegedly killed her husband with a samurai sword "stabbing and slicing him" more than 50 times told police "I had no choice", a court Rowland-Stuart, 71, was arrested and originally charged with murdering her husband Andrew Rowland-Stuart, 70, after he was pronounced dead at their home in Lavender Street in Brighton on 27 May Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, the jury heard the 999 call made to police, in which Ms Rowland-Stuart said: "My husband Andrew has tried to kill me with a samurai sword and in the scuffle I managed to turn the sword towards him and he's fallen onto the sword and he's dead."Jurors had heard that Ms Rowland-Stuart, who identifies as a transgender woman, married Mr Rowland-Stuart, known as Andy, in a civil partnership in 2006. The defendant, who was ruled unfit to plead, was seen in doorbell footage shown to the court wearing only pants, covered in blood and asking neighbours for Sharman, who lived on the same floor as the couple, is seen answering the door to Ms Rowland-Stuart who says "help please", then - when Mr Sharman asks if he should call the police - says "he's dead, Andy's dead".In the 999 call played to the court, Mr Sharman says: "My neighbour's knocked on the door saying her husband's dead. All over her body there's blood." Police body worn camera footage from inside the couple's flat showed officers giving Mr Rowland-Stuart CPR in the lounge while a handcuffed Ms Rowland-Stuart sobbed and said: "I had no choice. We've been together 18 years. I never thought Andrew would do this to me." She added: "Why did you do this to me Andy?"The jury was told text messages between the two in the months leading to the incident were mostly about the mundanities of life, while being mostly kind and affectionate. The last one - on the day Mr Rowland-Stuart died - was about whether they needed more a police search of Ms Rowland-Stuart's emails there was one to a firm specialising in replica weapons from Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, the jury heard. It asked if a shogun tachi - a type of Japanese samurai sword - with a stainless steel blade which was no longer legal could be swapped for an alloy internet searches from Ms Rowland-Stuart's phone in the weeks before the death also showed 14 results for swords including replica swords, curved swords, samurai curved swords, Japanese swords and Japanese sword names, the court was Rowland-Stuart was ruled unfit to plead by Judge Christine Laing KC on Monday, so did not take part in the jury was told that because of this they were deciding whether or not Ms Rowland-Stuart unlawfully killed her trial continues.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- BBC News
Brighton wife killed husband with samurai sword, court told
A woman killed her husband with a samurai sword "stabbing and slicing him" more than 50 times before replacing the sword in its sheath on a stand, a court Rowland-Stuart, 71, was arrested and originally charged with murdering her husband Andrew Rowland-Stuart, 70, after he was pronounced dead at their home in Lavender Street in Brighton on 27 May Lewes Crown Court on Monday, the jury heard that Ms Rowland-Stuart, who has been deemed unfit to plead, told police she had acted in self heard that Ms Rowland-Stuart, who is transgender, married Mr Rowland Stuart, known as Andy, in a civil partnership in 2006. Prosecution barrister Charlotte Newell KC said: "Whatever the cause for attacking Andrew, the sheer number and the nature of the wounds inflicted could not have been a reasonable use of force."The barrister told the court Ms Rowland-Stuart had owned the samurai sword used in the attack for the months before Mr Rowland-Stuart's death, his wife had also searched on the internet for Japanese swords, the court couple, who met in 2001, lived together on the 15th floor of the tower block in told police that they were a "normal couple" and that they had never heard arguing coming from their flat. Messages between the couple were also "generally polite and affectionate towards each other", Ms Newell jury was told that shortly after 19:20 on the day of the incident, Ms Rowland-Stuart was seen on a doorbell camera, stripped down to her pants with blood visible on her legs and stomach. Ms Rowland-Stuart knocked on two neighbours' doors and when one was answered she shouted "help" and "Andy's dead", Ms Newell added that while on the phone to 999, Ms Rowland-Stuart said: "My husband Andrew has tried to kill me with a samurai sword and in the scuffle I managed to turn the sword towards him and he has fallen on the sword." The court heard that when police arrived at the flat they saw blood on the walls, cabinet, sofa and in the Rowland-Stuart's hands, arms and torso were cut and he had injuries to his back and the back of his head, the jury was sword, which was used to inflict all but one of the injures, had been placed in a sheath and back on its stand, the court remaining injury could have been cause by a letter opener, Ms Newell said. The jury heard that Ms Rowland-Stuart, who told police she tried to push the sword out of her husband's hands, had injuries to her hands that were consistent with holding a Rowland-Stuart was ruled unfit to plead by Judge Christine Laing KC earlier on Monday, so did not take part in the jury was told that because of this they were deciding whether or not Ms Rowland-Stuart unlawfully killed her trial continues.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Trans woman, 71, 'killed husband by slicing him more than 50 times with a samurai sword she bought in the 1980s', court hears
A trans woman killed her husband with a samurai sword by 'stabbing and slicing him' more than 50 times, a court heard. Joanna Rowland-Stuart, 71, has been deemed 'unfit to plead' to the murder of her husband Andrew Rowland-Stuart, 69, in their 15th-floor flat on Lavender Street, Brighton, on May 27 last year. She told police attending the scene that 'she had no choice' but to kill him after he attacked her with the sword, which she bought in the 1980s. When police and paramedics arrived at the scene they tried to conduct life-saving treatment, but Mr Rowland-Stuart's injuries were 'simply not survivable'. On Monday, Jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told they must determine whether Rowland-Stuart's actions were unlawful, but that she would not be involved in proceedings. Prosecuting, Charlotte Newell KC said there was 'no doubt' Rowland-Stuart had inflicted the injuries, 'which she did by stabbing and slicing him over 50 times with a samurai sword'. Ms Newell added: 'Although Joanna Rowland-Stuart made some suggestion to attending police officers at the time that she did act in self-defence - the crown suggest that can safely be rejected. 'On the basis that, whatever the cause for attacking Andrew, the sheer number and the nature of the wounds that she inflicted, could not possibly be a reasonable use of force.' On the evening of the attack, Rowland-Stuart went to her neighbour's flat across the hall from her own, wearing just her underwear and covered in her husband's blood. By this time, she had already tried to wash herself and the sword clean of Andy's blood in the shower, the prosecution said. Her neighbour proceeded to call the police, and she told the operator: 'My husband Andy has tried to kill me with a samurai sword - in the scuffle I have managed to turn the sword towards him and he has fallen on the sword.' Jurors heard that Rowland-Stuart, who is transgender, married Mr Rowland Stuart, known as Andy, in a civil partnership in 2006. Their neighbours gave witness statements that described them as a 'normal couple' who they never heard arguing. Describing the scene, Ms Newell said: 'Andy was lying in the small living room in a pool of blood - he was covered in blood from significant knife wounds to his hands, his arms and to his torso - he was wearing underwear and a long sleeve t-shirt and that was soaked through. 'The samurai sword, which had been used to inflict all bar one of the injuries, had been placed back on a sheath and back on its stand from where it was later recovered.' This morning, Rowland-Stuart was found 'unfit' to plead and participate in her trial. Judge Christine Laing KC ruled: 'She would be an unreliable witness in her own defence and would not be fit to be cross-examined, and for those reasons alone I find her unfit to plead.' A trial of the act, which decides if someone physically committed a crime, rather than their intent, will continue tomorrow morning.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
Woman killed husband by ‘stabbing and slicing' over 50 times with samurai sword
A woman killed her husband with a samurai sword, 'stabbing and slicing him' more than 50 times before replacing the sword in its sheath on a stand, a court heard. Joanna Rowland-Stuart, 71, has been deemed 'unfit to plead' to the murder of her husband Andrew Rowland-Stuart, 69, in their 15th-floor flat in Lavender Street in Brighton, on May 27 last year. She told police attending the scene that 'she had no choice' but to kill him, after he attacked her with the sword, which she had bought in the 1980s. When police and paramedics arrived on the scene, they tried to conduct life-saving treatment, but Mr Rowland-Stuart's injuries were 'simply not survivable'. On Monday, jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told they must determine whether Rowland-Stuart's actions were unlawful, but that she would not be involved in proceedings. Prosecuting, Charlotte Newell KC said there was 'no doubt' Rowland-Stuart had inflicted the injuries, 'which she did by stabbing and slicing him over 50 – five-zero – times with a samurai sword.' Ms Newell continued: 'Although Joanna Rowland-Stuart made some suggestion to attending police officers at the time that she did act in self-defence – the crown suggest that can safely be rejected. 'On the basis that, whatever the cause for attacking Andrew, the sheer number and the nature of the wounds that she inflicted, could not possibly be a reasonable use of force.' On the evening of the attack, Rowland-Stuart went to her neighbour's flat across the hall from her own, wearing just her underwear, covered in her husband's blood. By this time, she had already tried to wash herself and the sword clean of Andy's blood in the shower, the prosecution said. Her neighbour proceeded to call the police, and she told the operator: 'My husband Andy has tried to kill me with a samurai sword – in the scuffle I have managed to turn the sword towards him and he has fallen on the sword.' Jurors heard that Rowland-Stuart, who is transgender, married Mr Rowland Stuart, known as Andy, in a civil partnership in 2006. Their neighbours gave witness statements that described them as a 'normal couple' who they had never heard arguing. Describing the scene, Ms Newell said: 'Andy was lying in the small living room in a pool of blood – he was covered in blood from significant knife wounds to his hands, his arms and to his torso – he was wearing underwear and a long sleeve t-shirt and that was soaked through. 'The samurai sword, which had been used to inflict all bar one of the injuries, had been placed back on a sheath and back on its stand from where it was later recovered.' This morning, Rowland-Stuart was found 'unfit' to plead and participate in her trial. Judge Christine Laing KC ruled: 'She would be an unreliable witness in her own defence and would not be fit to be cross-examined, and for those reasons alone I find her unfit to plead.' A trial of the act, which decides if someone physically committed a crime, rather than their intent, will continue tomorrow morning.
