World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Inquest jury finds failures contributed to deaths of three pensioners
An inquest jury in England found that failures probably contributed to three pensioners’ deaths in February 2019.
Alexander Lewis-Ranwell attacked Anthony Payne, 80, and identical twins Dick and Roger Carter, both 84, in Exeter, Devon.
He was released from custody hours before the killings after being arrested in connection with attacks at farms.
A doctor did not recommend a mental health assessment at the time, and a requested check by a mental health nurse the next morning did not take place.
The jury criticised police and healthcare professionals working for Devon County Council, Devon Partnership Trust and contractor G4S.
Lewis-Ranwell was found not guilty by reason of insanity and detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit.
The victims’ families called for changes, including a national review of guidance and training on mental health in police custody.
An inquest jury found that shortcomings in police and healthcare responses probably contributed to the deaths of three pensioners.
Alexander Lewis-Ranwell killed Anthony Payne, 80, and identical twins Dick and Roger Carter, both 84, in Exeter in February 2019.
Hours before the killings, Lewis-Ranwell had been released from custody after a doctor did not recommend a mental health assessment.
A requested appointment with a mental health nurse the next morning did not take place.
The victims’ families called for changes to prevent similar deaths.
- Who
- Alexander Lewis-Ranwell killed Anthony Payne and twins Dick and Roger Carter.
- What
- An inquest jury found that shortcomings probably made a more than minimal contribution to the three deaths.
- When
- The killings took place in February 2019. The jury gave its conclusions in October 2026.
- Where
- Exeter, Devon, England.
- Why
- The jury said shortcomings contributed to the deaths. Lewis-Ranwell had been released from custody after a doctor did not recommend a mental health assessment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lewis-Ranwell killed Anthony Payne and the Carter twins in Exeter.
Lewis-Ranwell was released from custody after a doctor did not recommend a Mental Health Act assessment.
A requested mental health nurse appointment did not take place.
An inquest jury concluded that shortcomings probably contributed to the three deaths.
- Victims
- Anthony Payne, 80; Dick and Roger Carter, 84
- Location
- Exeter, Devon
- Killings
- February 2019
- Doctor
- Mihail Pichiu, a force medical examiner employed by G4S
- Jury finding
- Shortcomings probably made a more than minimal contribution to the deaths
- Lewis-Ranwell’s outcome
- Found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit
What people are saying
These shortcomings probably made a more than minimal contribution to the three deaths.
Nearly eight years after the brutal killings of our uncles, Dick and Roger Carter, we finally feel that the inquests have exposed the systemic failures and missed opportunities that cost them their lives.
We believe the evidence heard during the inquests demonstrate the need for a national review of guidance and training on mental health in police custody, so that meaningful lessons are learned, and similar failures are not repeated.
We can only hope that the agencies listen to this damming conclusion and take stock of the changes that need to be made to ensure this doesn't happen again to another family,