A man has gone on trial accused of plotting to hire a hitman to murder his estranged wife. Former Tata Steel worker Paul Lewis is alleged to have paid a neighbour £1,500 to secure the services of a killer. The Swansea Crown Court was informed that no such “hit” was carried out, but the prosecution claims the two defendants conspired to arrange the murder. Lewis, 54, and his 34-year-old neighbour Dominque Saunders face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
During the trial’s opening, barrister Nicola Powell explained that Lewis and his wife, Joanne Atkinson-Lewis, had been together for 16 years before separating in 2021. The prosecution alleges that between February and April 2023, Lewis and Saunders conspired to murder Joanne, with Lewis paying Saunders to facilitate the act. Text exchanges between the two men are presented as evidence, indicating Lewis’s frustration when his wife was seen alive on a beach. The prosecution also highlighted Saunders’ internet searches related to guns and the target’s area postcode.
The court heard testimony from Lewis’s son, Keiran Lewis, who recounted finding his father intoxicated and in a distressed state at his flat. Keiran uncovered potential involvement of Saunders in the plot, prompting him to call the police. Keiran described his father as emotionally detached during the incident. Additional evidence included a statement from Joanne Atkinson-Lewis, detailing her husband’s mental health decline post their separation.
The trial continues with both defendants, Paul Lewis and Dominique Saunders, denying the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Follow Wales Online for the latest updates on this case and subscribe for more court and crime news.