A husband accused of plotting with a neighbour to murder his estranged wife will face a second trial. Paul Lewis is alleged to have conspired with Dominique Saunders to arrange for a “hitman” to kill his partner for a fee of £1,500 – allegations the pair deny. Lewis and Saunders stood trial at Swansea Crown Court earlier this month but the jury was discharged in the second-week when the case was part-heard.
A retrial for the defendants has now been set for June 23 next year at Merthyr Crown Court. It was the prosecution case that Lewis had paid his neighbour Saunders £1,500 to “facilitate” the murder of his estranged wife Joanne Atkinson-Lewis by arranging for a hitman to carry out the killing. No such act was ever carried out but the court heard it was the alleged agreement that constituted the offence.
Paul Lewis, aged 54, and 34-year-old Dominique Saunders, both of Fishmarket Quay, Swansea Marina, Swansea, denied conspiracy to commit murder. The jury trying the case was discharged at Swansea Crown Court when the case was part-heard, prompting the decision for a retrial.
The alleged crime involved a sinister plot between Lewis and Saunders to hire a hitman to murder Lewis’s estranged wife for money. The upcoming retrial at Merthyr Crown Court will offer another chance to delve into the details of this disturbing case and seek justice for the parties involved.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking within seemingly ordinary neighbourhoods, and the importance of uncovering and prosecuting such heinous crimes to ensure the safety and protection of all individuals. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and the upcoming retrial proceedings.