Husband jailed for life for murdering wife in "wicked" plot
Robert Rhodes killed his estranged wife Dawn Rhodes in Redhill in June 2016, however was initially found not guilty in 2017
Last updated 16th Jan 2026
A man who stabbed his wife to death and manipulated his child in a "wicked" plot to get away with murder, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 29-and-a-half years.
52-year-old Robert Rhodes was found guilty of murdering his wife Dawn Rhodes, in a 'cold-blooded' attack in Redhill.
The murder came after Rhodes discovered Dawn had been having an affair with a work colleague.
Today, (16 January) he was sentenced in Inner London Crown Court, a sentencing Robert Rhodes refused to attend.
Rhodes murdered his wife by cutting her throat, however in 2017 was able to convince jurors that he had acted in self-defence, meaning he was released following a trial at the Old Bailey.
Rhodes previously had claimed that Dawn had attacked him and his child with a kitchen knife.
However in 2021, their child came forward with compelling new evidence leading to police re-opening the case, before Rhodes was re-arrested in 2024.
When he was arrested for murder again, he tellingly told officers he had "thought this would come back to bite me".
It was revealed that Rhodes had manipulated the child into his plan to making the murder of Dawn Rhodes seem like an act of self-defence.
The child told a therapist that Rhodes used them into making his story more believable by making them leave stab wounds on the defendant.
Rhodes also left wounds on the child in order to make his account more believable, including one wound so severe it required general anaesthetic.
The child also revealed that they were made to trick Dawn into closing their eyes so Robert could attack her.
Today in court, the child gave an incredibly powerful and emotional statement.
They said that they were now living with PTSD, and the scar on their forearm was a constant reminder of the damage Robert had done.
They added that Robert, abused, manipulated and gaslit them, in order to keep him from avoiding facing justice.
The child said Robert's actions left them unable to form trusting relationships, and that his actions will effect them for the rest of their life.
The child finished their statement by saying that when Robert murdered Dawn, he killed their mum, and took away their dad.
Other family members described Dawn as a loving daughter, sister and mother and that her murder had left them with an insurmountable grief.
The court heard about online searches Rhodes had made in the lead up to Dawn's murder, these included 'covert hypnosis' and 'household and other poisons'
The judge commended the child for their fortitude and bravely, and that the damaging implications of Rhodes' actions on the child cannot be overstated.
The judge described Rhodes' actions as wicked and callous and that he accepted no responsibility.
The judge added during sentencing, that as Rhodes had failed to appear in court, he had added cowardice to his list of crimes.
Rhodes was also found guilty of perjury, perverting the cause of justice and child cruelty.