Rene Sampat was described as 'evil' and 'the devil' after she recruited her teenage son, Roy Aziz, to murder his wife Janet in a crime reminiscent of the movie 'Fatal Attraction.' Sampat was infatuated with Ancell Marshall, Janet's husband and Sampat's driving instructor. After Marshall spurned her advances, Sampat orchestrated the brutal stabbing, battering, and strangulation of his wife in their North London home in April 1991. Aziz, then 16, carried out the murder.
Sampat and Aziz were both convicted for the crime. Sampat was sentenced to life imprisonment, while Aziz, then 18, was detained. During her sentencing, Sampat reportedly screamed, 'I am not guilty of murder, I am guilty of love.'
Botched Investigation and Wrongful Accusation
Prior to the convictions, Ancell Marshall, a driving instructor and home missionary, was himself wrongly charged with his wife's murder. He was held in custody for two months, a period that deeply traumatized him. Despite the eventual dismissal of charges against him due to a lack of evidence, public perception lingered, with some individuals outside the Old Bailey in 1994 pelting Marshall with stones and believing him to be the true murderer.
Detective Superintendent Gavin Robertson, who later re-investigated the case, uncovered evidence pointing to Sampat's guilt. Robertson suggested that Marshall's initial arrest may have been a premature move by his predecessor, a detective nicknamed 'Mr Murder,' who allegedly sought to maintain a perfect record of solving cases before retirement. "When I read the case papers, there just wasn't any evidence," Robertson stated. "It clearly wasn't Ancell and the blame lay elsewhere."
A Campaign of Obsession and Deception
Sampat's obsession with Ancell Marshall began around 1985 when she enrolled in his driving school. Her advances were persistent, including inappropriate touching during lessons. Marshall attempted to distance himself by arranging for her to have another instructor. Sampat then escalated her efforts, showering gifts on Marshall's children, decorating the family home, and even becoming a trusted babysitter.
When direct advances failed, Sampat converted to Christianity to join Marshall's church. She also falsely claimed to have been raped multiple times, seeking counseling from Marshall. During one such encounter, she reportedly attempted to seduce him. In another instance, she claimed to have been raped by an intruder and, when warned about her children potentially being taken away, she attempted to stab herself, alleging no one believed her story. She also spread rumors of having had an abortion of Marshall's child.
Sampat's campaign culminated in a series of poison pen letters aimed at breaking up the Marshalls' marriage. These letters contained cruel insults about Janet Marshall and falsely accused her of having an affair. A box of dead roses was sent to their home, followed by a parcel containing a doll with its limbs ripped off. Graffiti targeting Janet also appeared at their church. Disturbingly, one letter predicted Janet's death on the first birthday of their youngest daughter in May 1991, a prophecy that was fulfilled just days before.
Aftermath and Lingering Injustice
Ancell Marshall, exonerated by Judge Bruce Laughland in February 1992, continued to serve his community and dedicate himself to his church and family. His second wife, Delphine, described him as a "fantastic husband and father" who carried the trauma of the ordeal throughout his life. Despite his clear conscience, he faced accusations from some within his church community. He passed away in November from lymphoma.
Roy Aziz, now 51, has stated he was present at the time of the murder but denies being the perpetrator. He has disowned his mother and runs a mobile phone repair business. He expressed that it is not right to try and bring up the past as the person who actually committed the murder is still out there.
Detective Superintendent Robertson expressed pride in having 'righted a wrong' through his reinvestigation, though he admitted he did not initially believe Sampat could be convicted. He noted that Sampat's manipulation of her teenage son to commit murder was particularly frightening. The judge presiding over Sampat and Aziz's trial, Judge Richard Lowry, concurred with the initial judge's assessment and called for an investigation into the initial inquiry that led to an innocent man being charged. Journalist Guy Toyn, who covered the case, described the initial investigation as a 'shambles,' stating that the real killer was overlooked while an innocent man was wrongly accused.