Man given life sentence for Camberwell New Year’s Day murder

A man has been jailed for life after he was found guilty of the murder of his ex-girlfriend who was stabbed to death on New Year’s Day in Camberwell.

Michael Rolle, 34, of Pentworth House, Dulwich was given a minimum of 20 years for the murder of Charlotte Huggins, 33, after they had argued when Charlotte said she wanted their relationship to end.

In the hours preceding the attack Charlotte had been enjoying drinks with a male friend, who knew Rolle, at her address in John Ruskin Street.

Shortly before the stabbing Rolle attended the address and an argument ensued between the two men.

Charlotte told her friend to leave but he returned a short while later after realising he had left possessions in the flat.

As he walked up to the address Rolle appeared followed by Charlotte who shouted that she had been stabbed.

Rolle calmly discarded a knife on the pavement and threatened the male before cycling away from the address.

Despite the efforts of emergency services Charlotte was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rolle was located at an address in Kennington on January 3 and arrested on suspicion of Charlotte’s murder. The bicycle he used on the night of the murder was located and found to have Charlotte’s blood on it.

Officers also found a letter Rolle had written which tried to claim the stabbing had not been intentional and that Charlotte had fallen onto the knife.

Rolle will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 19.

Detective inspector Domenica Catino of the Specialist Crime Command led the investigation and said:“Throughout the trial Michael Rolle took no responsibility for his actions and portrayed himself to be the victim.

“He professed his deep love for Charlotte yet callously watched her take her last few breaths before cowardly cycling away, never stopping to look back, never stopping to help her or even phone for help.

“Rolle had no regard for Charlotte as she lay dying but in giving evidence focused only on the effect it had on him, not considering for a moment the effects on Charlotte’s family, or her 10-year-old child who has to face a future with no mother.

“His focus was fabricating an account to save himself. In the days leading up to his arrest Rolle came up with a truly unbelievable fantasy of Charlotte stabbing herself in the back, making numerous notes to ensure he covered all angles, and then trying to gain sympathy by declaring it to be suicide note.

“These were the efforts of an intensely jealous man who showed no remorse and blamed everyone but himself.

“I would like to thank Charlotte’s family for their full support throughout this investigation, and that of the homicide investigation team for their hard work and commitment, along with prosecution counsel Mr Patterson QC. It was an excellent team effort all working together to get justice for Charlotte.”