Attacker Killed Three Pensioners Hours Apart in Exeter
Joint inquests hear details of the frenzied attacks by Alexander Lewis-Ranwell on elderly men.
A man armed with a shovel and a hammer killed three pensioners in their homes within hours of each other, joint inquests have heard. Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, now 35, fatally attacked 80-year-old Anthony Payne with a hammer, and identical twins Dick and Roger Carter, both 84, with a shovel on February 10, 2019.
The attacks occurred within a three-hour span at two residences approximately 1.5 miles apart in Exeter, Devon.
Custody Release and Prior Arrests
Lewis-Ranwell had been released from police custody just hours before attacking Mr. Payne. He had been arrested earlier for an assault on an elderly farmer, John Ellis, using a saw. This was his second arrest within 24 hours, occurring seven hours after an initial arrest for attempted burglary at another farm.
During his time in custody between February 8 and February 11, 2019, Lewis-Ranwell exhibited disturbed and aggressive behavior towards officers. He was moved between three separate cells due to damage he caused, and reportedly spat and punched at the cell hatch. A force medical examiner assessed him, but a Mental Health Act assessment was not recommended at that time. He was scheduled to be seen by a mental health nurse the following morning, but was released from custody on February 10 before this could occur.
Subsequent Murders and Mental Health Assessment
Following his release, Lewis-Ranwell traveled from Barnstaple to Exeter, where he committed the murders of Mr. Payne and the Carter brothers.
The next day, Lewis-Ranwell was arrested for a third time for affray and possession of an offensive weapon after an incident at an Exeter hotel. A subsequent Mental Health Act assessment concluded he was acutely psychotic. At that point, the police were unaware of the killings.
Legal Proceedings and Victim Impact
As the police investigation progressed, Lewis-Ranwell was identified as the suspect and arrested in a hospital. He was later found not guilty of murder by a jury by reason of insanity and has been detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit.
Amanda Taylor, niece of Dick and Roger Carter, described the brothers as gentle, kind, and considerate men who lived their entire lives in the home their father built and worked in the family mushroom business. She emphasized their inseparable bond and the unimaginable horror of their final moments.
Mr. Payne's niece, Caroline Gillespie, stated her uncle was an animal lover who enjoyed working on his allotment and living a simple, content life. He was killed at his home while tending to his cats. Gillespie noted that despite finding peace, his life ended tragically and abruptly, contrasting with his quiet and private nature.
Lewis-Ranwell, originally from Croyde, north Devon, is listed as an interested party in the inquests but is not participating or legally represented.
The inquests are ongoing.
