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Gloucestershire Business News

Gloucester man found not guilty of attempted murder

A jury took just five hours and 33 minutes to reach a not guilty verdict on a Gloucester man charged with the attempted murder against a man who he thought was having an affair with his wife.

The jury of six men and six women, heard that Rowan Lee, 31, of Sidney Street, Gloucester attacked Phillip Talbot in Bamfurlong Road, Staverton, on April 19, 2021, with an axe and a knife having already rammed his car in the process of getting him to stop.

Prosecutor David Scutt explained to the jury at Gloucester Crown Court that Lee's motivation for the 'concerted and planned attack' was because he suspected that Mr Talbot was having a relationship with his wife Georgia Lee, who was a colleague of his at work at the local hospital.

Mr Scutt said it was the Crown's case that Lee, by his actions, had intended to kill Mr Talbot who had by the time of the attack had obtained employment at Gloucester Airport.

Mr Scutt added: "He allegedly used his car as a weapon on more than one occasion, and intentionally used a knife until he was disarmed. He allegedly used an axe in a carefully planned trap for Mr Talbot."

Lee maintained throughout this trial, and a previous trial in which the jury were unable to reach a verdict, that he had only intended to chop Mr Talbot's fingers off because they had been 'all over his wife'.

Kannan Siva, defending told the jury: "Mr Lee has admitted attacking Mr Talbot, but he didn't intend to kill him. He wasn't trying to kill him. He had already prepared himself for prison.

"What he intended to do is what he has already admitted to seriously wounding Mr Talbot. He has pleaded guilty to this. At the time of the attack Mr Lee was depressed and was suicidal because he believed his wife was cheating on him.

Lee has previously admitted maliciously wounding Mr Talbot with intent to do grievous bodily harm in Bamfurlong Road, Staverton, on April 19, 2021. He has also pleaded guilty to being in possession of two offensive weapons, a knife, and an axe, in Bamfurlong Lane without reasonable excuse.

Lee has pleaded guilty to driving dangerous in a black Ford Focus in Bamfurlong Lane on the same date. He further admitted not having a valid driving licence or third-party insurance on the vehicle.

Judge Michael Cullum told Lee that he would be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on December 19, 2022.

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