Duckett Street Stepney Green fatal stabbing: Woman jailed

Charlotte Lawlor, 31, was attacked with a knife in front of her family, children and guests at the party in Duckett Street on September 15 last year.

She was stabbed by Hope Rowe, of Piazza Walk in Aldgate, following an argument at the party after 1am and was pronounced dead an hour after.

The 33-year-old then drove away from the scene with her partner Leigh Holder.

Appearing at the Inner London Crown Court today (July 9), Rowe was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years.

Hope Rowe has been jailed (Image: Met Police) Holder, 38, was also jailed for 16 months for perverting the course of justice.

He encouraged Rowe not to surrender to the police, and helped her dispose of the murder weapon.

At around 2.10am, Holder’s car was stopped by armed police in Tower Hamlets and he told them that Rowe jumped out of the car, claiming he had no knowledge of where she was.

Leigh Holder helped dispose of the weapon (Image: Met Police) At 7am, Rowe went to Bethnal Green Police station, where she was arrested on suspicion of murder.

She provided no comment while interviewed, and later claimed in court that her actions were due to a momentary loss of control.

Rowe’s phone had a voicemail accidentally left by Holder while he was sitting next to her and driving away from the scene.

Charlotte Lawlor was stabbed to death (Image: Met Police) In the recorded conversation, Rowe told Holder that it was “good” she had killed Ms Lawlor, while Holder instructed his partner to dispose of the knife and to avoid the police.

Detective Sergeant Dean Musgrove, from the Met Police’s Specialist Crime North unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Ms Lawlor, many of whom personally witnessed the murder. We hope that this sentence gives them some closure.

“Rowe and her partner behaved despicably. This sentence shows that killers will be pursued even in cases where they attempt to mislead investigators.”