Man who murdered partner of 10 years in ‘rage and spite’ convicted

A man who stabbed his partner of 10 years in the neck has been convicted of her murder.

Franklin Mcleod, 55, of Cressingham Road in Lewisham, was found guilty of the murder of his partner, 53-year-old Marlene Coleman, on Wednesday.

Marlene’s sister, Pamela Campbell, said: “I am overwhelmed with the verdict of guilty for McLeod in relation to the murder of my sister Marlene. I would like to thank the courts and the jury for the result.

“He will now get the justice that he deserves. This has been the most traumatic time in my life and I now feel that I can slowly move on after the decision made at court. My sister will always be in my heart, God bless her soul.”

The court heard how Mcleod and Marlene had been in a relationship for over ten years and Mcleod could be aggressive, possessive and jealous.

One of Marlene’s relations said that Marlene would only speak on the phone when Mcleod was not about and hung up if he was approaching, saying “Franklin’s coming.”

Marlene appears to have become unhappy in her relationship and wanted to end it. However, she told people how Mcleod refused to leave and how she was scared. Marlene reported that he would not contribute financially and he pressured her to send money to his children in Jamaica.

Marlene eventually met someone else and was planning a life with them. However, Mcleod found out about the relationship by going through her phone.

Mcleod found the phone messages on June 15, 2021, and neighbours later told police that around 9.30pm, they heard scream coming from the couple’s flat.

CCTV recorded Mcleod leaving the flat and further CCTV captured him walking about until, at around 11.45pm, he walked in to Lewisham Police Station.

Mcleod told the station officer he had argued with Marlene and went on to explain that the argument had taken place at his home address in the kitchen.

When asked what had happened he told the station officer how he followed Marlene into the kitchen and put his hands around her throat as she was at the kitchen sink.

He said she had fallen unconscious and he had left there and gone for a walk. He then said when he returned to the flat 20 to 30 minutes later he found her in a pool of blood, but had not called an ambulance.

Officers were immediately sent to their address Cressingham Road where they found Marlene unconscious lying on the floor face down, surrounded by a pool of blood.

Marlene was not moving or breathing but officers administered first aid until the arrival of London’s Air Ambulance and London Ambulance Service but Marlene was declared dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination showed she had died from a single stab wound to her neck that was so ferocious it had gone right through and out the other side. This also indicated that Marlene had been lying down when the fatal blow was struck.

Mcleod was interviewed by police and although he admitted to grabbing her throat he denied stabbing her saying that must have happened when he went out.

However, officers charged Mcleod with Marlene’s murder and as a result of their extensive investigation secured the evidence to convict him.

He will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 18 November.

Officer in the case Detective Sergeant Arran Barnes, said: “Franklin Mcleod was a controlling man who murdered Marlene in an act of rage and spite. People reported that Marlene would hang up the phone if Mcleod came into the room and he seemed to want all Marlene’s attention just on him.

“Marlene appears to have had enough of his controlling behaviour and was making plans to leave Mcleod, but when he found this out, he murdered her. Although Mcleod admitted assaulting Marlene, he never admitted to murdering her. The jury has seen through his lies and he has been convicted.”

Pictured top: Franklin Mcleod and Marlene Coleman (Picture: The Met)