A woman who stabbed a mother during a child's birthday party has been found guilty of murder after she was caught out by a chilling voicemail.
Hope Rowe, 33, carried out the "brutal attack” on Charlotte Lawlor, 31, in front of children and some of her family members in Stepney Green in the early hours of September 15 last year.
It took a jury just 15 minutes to convict Rowe at Inner London Crown Court on Friday and she now faces a life sentence.
Rowe's boyfriend, Leigh Holder, 37, was also convicted of perverting the course of justice after driving Rowe away from the scene and helping to get rid of the knife, as well as misleading armed police.
The trial heard how Ms Lawlor "just wanted to go home" after celebrating the birthday of a child at one of the flats, when she was confronted by an angry Rowe who accused her of hiding her keys.
Rowe left the flat with the knife used for the birthday cake and then came back to the entrance just as Ms Lawlor was leaving to get a taxi home.
Harrowing CCTV footage was played in court showing Rowe stabbing the mother-of-one in the chest before she fled the scene, MyLondon reports. The stabbing was witnessed by some of Ms Lawlor’s family, children and guests at the party.
Rowe’s phone was seized and analysed by forensic experts. A voicemail – accidentally left by Holder on Rowe’s phone while he was sitting next to her and driving away from the scene – was recovered and exposed their conversation after the stabbing.
Detective Sergeant Dean Musgrove, from the Met Police’s Specialist Crime North unit, said: “Hope Rowe launched a brutal attack on Charlotte Lawlor at what should have been a joyous occasion. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, who will have to contend not only with the loss of a loved one, but with the trauma of having witnessed the killing.
“As if the killing was not senseless enough, Rowe then tried to deceive investigators, disposing of the knife before turning herself in. It still has not been found to this day, and both Rowe and her partner were incriminated by a voicemail accidentally recorded on Rowe’s phone.”
In a statement, the victim’s parents said: “We are happy with the verdict. We would like to thank the jury for their attention during the trial.
“The family will never get over the loss and murder of Charlotte. It has destroyed us, leaving a gaping hole. Charlotte’s son, Riley, has been left without a mum, and siblings without their older sister and best friend.
“Charlotte brought light to everyone’s life.”
Rowe and Holder will be sentenced an Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday, July 9.
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