HULLBRIDGE PENSIONER JAILED FOR BRUTAL WIFE-MURDER
At 82 years old, Robert Lewis was found guilty of murdering his wife, Janet Lewis, aged 76, resulting in a mandated minimum prison term of 16 years.The murder occurred at their residence in Hullbridge, near Southend, Essex, on September 1, 2019.
It was reported that Lewis attacked his wife as she slept, using a mallet along with five kitchen knives, causing critical injuries including a brain injury and the severing of her carotid artery.
After the assault, Lewis attempted to end his own life by hanging but was discovered injured at the bottom of the stairs hours later by relatives.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Lewis, who was worried about possibly developing dementia, believed his wife was at risk of having a stroke—a belief that contributed to his violent actions.
The judge at Chelmsford Crown Court called the act both selfish and wicked, noting the deep suffering inflicted on Janet’s family.
Initially, Lewis confessed to the murder but later stated he had no memory of the incident, describing it as a 'mystery.' He was diagnosed with vascular dementia, although it was unclear whether the condition affected him at the time of the killing.
The sentence handed down was a minimum of 16 years, reduced slightly to 14 years and 214 days due to the time Lewis had spent in custody before trial.
