An inquest has opened into the deaths of three elderly men who were bludgeoned in their homes during a killing spree in Exeter more than seven years ago.
Anthony Payne, 80, and twin brothers Dick and Roger Carter, 84, were fatally attacked by Alexander-Lewis Ranwell on the same day in February 2019. Lewis-Ranwell, then a 28-year-old dangerous paranoid schizophrenic from Croyde near Barnstaple, was cleared of murder by reason of insanity after a trial in Exeter.
On Monday, senior coroner Philip Spinney reopened the inquest into the deaths of the three pensioners. A jury at County Hall in Exeter will spend the next five weeks hearing evidence about the circumstances leading up to their deaths. In particular, they will hear about Lewis-Ranwell's medical background and try to understand why he was twice released from police custody in Barnstaple in the days before the killings.
The coroner began by reading pen portraits of the victims, written by family members. Anthony George Payne lived in Exeter almost all his life. He enjoyed a quiet life with his three cats in Bonhay Road. He was a big fan of Exeter City and would often enjoy a drink at pubs in Heavitree, doing the crossword and reading the paper.
Mr Payne was killed by Lewis-Ranwell in the early afternoon of Sunday, February 10. Lewis-Ranwell had travelled from Barnstaple to Exeter shortly after being released from police custody for other matters when he walked into Mr Payne's house and attacked him. Mr Payne, who had been living elsewhere with a friend, had returned to his property to feed his cats but was fatally beaten over the head.
Roger John Carter and Dick Edward Carter were identical twins who lived at the family home in Cowick Lane all their lives. They were described by their niece as 'life-long companions' who were gentle, kind and considerate men. They worked in the family mushroom-growing business and loved nature. Roger was the more reserved and meticulous, Dick the more sociable. She recalled happy childhood memories at the home, in stark contrast to the brutal circumstances of their deaths.
After killing Mr Payne, Lewis-Ranwell went to Cowick Lane, walked into the Carter brothers' home and killed them with a spade. The killer was arrested two days later after an incident of affray at the Rougemont Hotel in the centre of Exeter. He was subsequently charged with the murder of all three men.
A trial took place in Exeter in November and December 2019. Lewis-Ranwell was found not guilty by reason of insanity and given a hospital order. The verdict meant he bore no criminal responsibility for the killings. The coroner said Lewis-Ranwell had been invited to take part in the inquest as an interested party but declined.
Lawyers representing Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Devon County Council and G4S are attending the inquest as interested parties. Their respective roles and interactions with Lewis-Ranwell will be examined.
Inquest Opens into Exeter Killings of Three Men