Woman handed life sentence for man's murder in Glastonbury

Dawn Lewis, 54, fatally stabbed Glenn Richards, 61, at her Chilkwell Street home on April 18.

Lewis, a yoga teacher, was found guilty of his murder yesterday (Thursday, December 1) and was handed a life sentence today at Bristol Crown Court. 

Jurors had rejected Lewis’ account of events, where she claimed she acted in self-defence, and concluded she had planned to kill Mr Richards.

She sustained leg wounds during the incident, but the doctor who treated her said they appeared to be self-inflicted.

At the sentencing hearing, one of Mr Richards' sons, Jamie, provided a victim statement to the court. 

Jamie had not seen his father for around 20 years after Mr Richards was convicted of the manslaughter of Jamie’s mother.

Earlier this year, Jamie and his brother were due to meet their father as part of the restorative justice process. However, they never did.

Glenn Richards, who was fatally stabbed by Dawn Lewis in April. (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)

Jamie said: “I have learned during my time spent at the trial that Glenn had, in fact, changed to some degree.

“He was a very ill man when he killed my dear Mum, although this, of course, will never excuse what he did.

“I have found out through this court trial that Glenn had worked on himself to get better while in prison and continued the path to recovery upon his release.

“Hearing this left me feeling a mixture of emotions which I am still processing today.

“The opportunity to tell him what effect his actions had on me growing up has been taken from me by Dawn Lewis, and I don’t think I’ll ever know how to actually come to terms with this.

“It is true what they say, time’s a healer. However, that being said, the pain only numbs, it never heals.

“If I met Glenn as planned I feel I could have walked away satisfied that I had done what I wanted to achieve and gain some kind of closure.”

Police officers at Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, in April. (Image: Steve Richardson)

He added: “I have my Mum’s heart and, therefore, I ultimately believe no-one, not even Glenn, deserves to have their life taken from them.”

Judge William Hart said Lewis would serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

Detective Inspector Neil Meade, the senior investigating officer, said: “Jamie’s powerful account is a testimony to how devastating Dawn Lewis’ actions have been.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to publicly thank all of Mr Richards’ family for their support and recognise the courage they have shown.

“They were put through the pain of a trial by Lewis’ failure to own up about what she did.

“She had the chance to make their lives easier and cause them less pain, yet chose to concoct a false story about acting in self-defence, which the jury saw through.”

Read more: Woman found guilty of murdering lodger in Glastonbury