Man Killed Three Pensioners Hours Apart, Inquest Hears

A man killed three pensioners in their homes within hours of each other, armed with a hammer and a shovel, an inquest has heard. Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, 35, murdered Anthony Payne, 80, and identical twins Dick and Roger Carter, 84, on February 10, 2019. The attacks occurred at two residences approximately 1.5 miles apart in Exeter, Devon.

Lewis-Ranwell had been released from police custody for attacking an elderly farmer, John Ellis, with a saw just hours before he killed Mr. Payne. This was his second arrest in 24 hours, following an attempted burglary at another farm seven hours earlier. During his time in custody between February 8 and 11, 2019, Lewis-Ranwell exhibited disturbed and aggressive behavior towards officers, spitting and punching a cell hatch. He was moved to three separate cells due to damage. 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 that appointment.

Following his release, Lewis-Ranwell traveled to Exeter where he committed the murders. He was arrested the next morning for affray and possessing an offensive weapon after an incident at a hotel. A Mental Health Act assessment later that day concluded he was acutely psychotic. At that point, authorities were unaware he was the suspect in the killings. As the police investigation progressed, he was identified and arrested in a hospital.

A jury later found Lewis-Ranwell not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, and he was detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit.

The inquests heard from the victims' families. Amanda Taylor, niece of Dick and Roger Carter, described the brothers as gentle, kind, and considerate men who had lived their entire lives in the home their father built and worked in the family mushroom business. She stated their bond was constant and unshakable, and their final moments were unimaginably terrible.

Caroline Gillespie, niece of Anthony Payne, said her uncle was an animal lover who enjoyed working on his allotment and led a quiet, private life. He was killed at his home while tending to his cats. Ms. Gillespie noted that despite finding peace and contentment, his life ended abruptly and tragically, contrasting sharply with his quiet existence.