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’s 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. This case highlights the severity of the accusations against the accused individuals, prompting legal proceedings to determine their culpability in the alleged crime.