Woman jailed for killing another at a children's party
The 33 year old attacked her in front of friends and family
A woman's been jailed for killing another woman at a child's birthday party in north east London
Hope Rowe stabbed Charlotte Lawlor in front of friends and family at a property in Stepney Green in September last year after a row
She then left the scene with her partner Leigh Holder.
Detective Sergeant Dean Musgrove, from the Met Police’s Specialist Crime North unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Ms Lawlor, many of whom personally witnessed the murder. We hope that this sentence gives them some closure.
"Rowe and her partner behaved despicably. This sentence shows that killers will be pursued even in cases where they attempt to mislead investigators."
On Thursday, 9 July, 2025, a judge at Inner London Crown Court jailed Rowe for life, with a minimum term of 23 years. This follows her conviction at the same court on Friday, 13 June.
Rowe's partner was also jailed for 16 months for perverting the course of justice. He encouraged Rowe not to surrender to the police, and helped her dispose of the murder weapon.
Just after 01:00hrs on Sunday, 15 September, Met officers attended a property in Duckett Street, Stepney Green, following reports of a serious assault. Charlotte Lawlor – who had been attending a birthday party at the property the previous evening – had been stabbed, and was being assisted by friends and family.
After administering first aid, police were joined by a London Ambulance Service crew, but, despite the efforts of paramedics, Ms Lawlor was pronounced dead within an hour.
Having spoken to witnesses at the property, officers established that Ms Lawlor had been stabbed by Hope Rowe following an argument at the party, who then drove away from the scene with her partner, Leigh Holder.
Around 02:10hrs, Holder’s vehicle was stopped by armed police in Tower Hamlets. He told them that Rowe had jumped out of the vehicle shortly after leaving the crime scene, and claimed he had no knowledge of her location. Holder was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
At 07:00hrs, Rowe attended Bethnal Green Police Station, where she was arrested on suspicion of murder. At interview, she provided no comment – and she later claimed in court that her actions were due to a momentary loss of control.
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