A jury has found that a series of errors led to the deaths of three elderly men who were fatally attacked by a mentally ill individual shortly after his release from police custody. Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, 35, was responsible for the fatal assaults on Anthony Payne, 80, as well as identical twins Dick and Roger Carter, both 84.

Lewis-Ranwell first came into police custody following an arrest for attempted burglary at a farm, where he was held for several hours before being released. Within 24 hours, he was arrested a second time for attacking an elderly farmer, John Ellis, with a saw. Despite this, he was released once again shortly before the fatal incidents.

The murders occurred only hours after his release, with Lewis-Ranwell using a hammer to attack Payne and a shovel to bludgeon the Carter twins to death. The attacks raised serious questions about the handling of Lewis-Ranwell by law enforcement authorities, particularly regarding the assessment of his mental health and the decision to release him despite multiple recent offenses.

The jury’s conclusion highlighted multiple failures within the system that allowed a dangerous individual to remain at large, resulting in the tragic deaths of three vulnerable elderly victims. Authorities have not yet detailed specific procedural changes but are expected to review custody and mental health assessment protocols in response to the findings.