Two people convicted for killing a 66 year old man in Lewisham

A man and a woman have been convicted of stabbing a 66-year-old man to death in his home who was a distant relative of theirs.

Aaron Woolcock, 30, of Lewisham, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Leroy Junior Edwards at the Old Bailey today following a trial.

Kerry Donovan, 29, of Pantile Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, was found guilty of the murder of Mr Edwards.

Both will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday, 18 April for their role in the killing of Mr Edwards.

The court heard that on 18 August 2018, Donovan and Woolcock had both gone to Mr Edward’s address on Ringstead Road where an argument took place and Mr Edwards was stabbed several times; Donovan and Woolcock then fled the scene.

A neighbour reported hearing banging coming from upstairs and had left his flat to find a trail of blood that led to Mr Edward’s door.

Mr Edwards was found stabbed inside the flat by emergency services, with a large knife on the floor next to him. He was taken to a south London hospital where he died a short while later.

A post-mortem examination took place on 19 August 2018 at Greenwich Mortuary and gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the neck and chest.

During a search of the scene a purse was recovered and police found it contained a driver’s licence and bank cards in the name of Kerry Donovan.

On 19 August 2018, officers arrested Donovan in Basildon on suspicion of murder and she was charged two days later.

Witnesses had reported seeing two people leave the flat following the altercation and following extensive CCTV enquiries, the second suspect was found.

Woolcock was arrested on 20 September 2018 and charged with murder the same day.

Both were kept in custody to appear at magistrates’ court and remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey.

Detective Sergeant Brian Jones, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We may never know exactly why Mr Edwards was killed.”

“Whatever the motive, this led to the senseless death of a family man of good character in the home where he had lived for over 25 years. His family described him as a ‘quiet, non-confrontational man who liked to be at home.’

“Woolcock and Donovan now face the consequences of their actions and I hope their conviction will give some solace to Mr Edward’s family and friends.”