A woman convicted in the high-profile murder case known as the Landscapers is seeking to challenge her conviction, citing newly obtained information that could support her release. Susan Edwards, along with her husband Christopher Edwards, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for the killings of her parents, Patricia and William Wycherley, at their Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, home in May 1998.
The couple was found guilty of the murders after the bodies of the victims were discovered buried in the garden of the family home. According to the prosecution, Christopher Edwards shot the couple at close range with a World War II-era .38 revolver, while Susan was convicted under the principle of joint enterprise, meaning she was considered a participant in the murders.
Following the killings, Susan and Christopher Edwards spent approximately £140,000 of Patricia and William Wycherley’s savings on movie memorabilia. Over the subsequent 15 years, the couple maintained the illusion that the victims were still alive by sending forged letters to friends and relatives, and regularly tending to the properties to avoid suspicion. Their home in Dagenham, east London, served as their base during this period. The deception unraveled when the Department for Work and Pensions contacted William Wycherley regarding his 100th birthday, prompting the couple to flee to France before eventually surrendering to authorities.
During the trial, the court acknowledged that Susan Edwards had suffered abuse but found that she had orchestrated the murders years later. She and Christopher received life sentences with a minimum term of 25 years. The case attracted significant public and media attention, partly due to the unusual nature of the crime—from a seemingly unremarkable couple to cold-blooded killers—and was dramatized in a 2021 television series featuring Olivia Colman and David Thewlis.
Susan Edwards’ current legal team, led by solicitor Darrell Ennis-Gayle of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, has indicated plans to submit fresh grounds for appeal to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Specific details of the new evidence have not been disclosed. Ennis-Gayle also previously challenged Susan’s original sentence, arguing that the court had failed to sufficiently consider her history of abuse; however, that appeal was dismissed in 2015.
To date, Susan Edwards maintains her innocence, and her legal representatives assert that there are multiple perspectives to the case, including denial of the double murder charges. The upcoming appeal process may provide further clarity on the claims and the prospects for her freedom.