A woman who knifed a mother to death after a row at a child’s birthday party has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years, police said.
Hope Rowe, 33, of Piazza Walk, Aldgate, was convicted of murdering Charlotte Lawlor, 31, with a knife at a property in Stepney Green, east London, in the early hours of September 15 last year, the Metropolitan Police said.
Rowe drove away from the scene with her partner, Leigh Holder, who accidentally left a voicemail on her phone, where she could be heard saying it was “good” that she had killed Ms Lawlor, the force added.
Holder, 38, who told her to get rid of the weapon and avoid the police, was jailed for 16 months for perverting the course of justice, Scotland Yard said. He encouraged Rowe not to surrender to the police, and helped her dispose of the murder weapon. Rowe’s phone was seized and analysed by forensic experts. A voicemail – accidentally left by Holder on Rowe’s phone while he was sitting next to her and driving away from the scene – was recovered. In the recorded conversation, Rowe told Holder that it was “good” she had killed Ms Lawlor, while Holder instructed his partner to dispose of the knife and to avoid the police.
The force said that Rowe claimed in court that her actions were due to a momentary loss of control. They were both sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday.
Detective Sergeant Dean Musgrove said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Ms Lawlor, many of whom personally witnessed the murder. We hope that this sentence gives them some closure. Rowe and her partner behaved despicably. This sentence shows that killers will be pursued even in cases where they attempt to mislead investigators.”
Charlotte’s cousin, Jessie McBride said her death was a ‘devastating shock to the family’ and ‘completely traumatising’ for her boy, she wrote, adding that he will now have to live every milestone in life without his mother.
Describing the victim, Ms McBride said: “Charlotte was an amazing woman, she had drive, determination and a really big heart! She fought hard to make sure her son had the things he needed. She was his biggest supporter and absolutely adored him. She was loved by so many people and will be sorely missed. “
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