Detectives have studied CCTV to track the movements of a paranoid schizophrenic on the day he killed three people in Exeter.

Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, 28, travelled to Exeter on February 10 and bludgeoned to death three elderly people in their homes.

He is standing trial in Exeter accused of three charges of murder. He admits the killings but says he was too mentally ill at the time to know what he was doing was wrong.

His trial is due to resume on Monday.

The jury has been told about his movements in the days leading up to the killings and what he did afterwards.

They have heard how he was spoken to three times by police in North Devon in the 48 hours before the killings. He broke into a farm, let animals loose from their pens and attacked a farmer in Barnstaple with a huge saw before heading to Exeter. A few hours before he arrived in the city he had been released from custody by police.







Any questions about the service? Message us on Facebook or email

He is accused of the murder of Anthony Payne, 80, at his home in Bonhay Road and twin brothers Dick and Roger Carter, 84, at their house in Cowick Lane.

Prosecutor Mr Richard Smith QC has taken the jury through a timeline of events.

Time Line

Timeline: Alexander Lewis-Ranwell killed three people in Exeter

  1. Thursday February 7

    During the afternoon Alexander Lewis-Ranwell enters Lee Meadow Farm in Ilfracombe and steals a drill and bicycle among other items. He lets animals out of their pens and causes some criminal damage. Clearly displaying signs of mental illness.

  2. Evening - Pub Combe Martin

    Defendant takes the bike a drill to the pub and is seen acting strangely. He is abusive and police are called. They offer him a lift but he refuses.

  3. Friday, February 8

    Enters Twitchen Farm in Ilfracombe. Takes owner's pony from barn. Behaving very strangely.

  4. Arrested for the first time

    9.49am Barnstaple custody

  5. Saturday, February 9. Released for the first time

    Shortly before 3am

  6. Freedom Centre

    Police take him to the homeless shelter in Barnstaple. Defendant says he likes to be called 'Albie'

  7. Facebook

    Defendant doesn't want to go to sleep and instead goes on Facebook. Chats with member of staff. Behaviour deteriorates and he starts to spit in a newspaper. Refuses offer to get crisis mental health help. Says he can get a shotgun. Rambling, he threatens to kill the member of staff and his cat before storming off.

  8. Saturday 8.45am

    Silver Spring Farm Goodleigh, Barnstaple. Seen by Mrs Ellis letting alpacas out of their pens.

  9. Attacks owner Mr Ellis

    Picks up a 4ft double handled saw and swings it repeatedly at the smallholder who has to run to safety. Only leaves when saw handle breaks. Described as calm and well educated but abusive and talking about paedophiles.

  10. Arrested for second time

    In neighbouring field letting sheep free

  11. 10.06am

    Seven hours after being released he is back in custody. Tries to take police officer's taser from holster. Put in a headlock and taken to the ground. Urinates in cells, continues being abusive. Seen by a doctor.

  12. Sunday February 10. Released from custody a second time

    The day of the killings

  13. 11am

    Taxi to Exeter. Asks to go to Haldon Hill near Exeter. He is let out at Copplestone near Crediton. Gets a rail replacement bus link to Exeter St David's train station

  14. 12.30am

    Wanders down Bonhay Road and reads a note on the door of number 65. It says the 80-year-old owner wants accommodation for himself and his cat.

  15. Kills Anthony Payne in his flat

    Lewis-Ranwell goes into the property and finds or follows Mr Payne upstairs to his bedroom. He picks up a hammer and bludgeons him to death with blows to the head. Leaves through the back door after killing Mr Payne

  16. 3.15pm - Kills twin brothers Dick and Roger Carter, 84.

    Another run down looking property. 109 Cowick Lane. Lewis-Ranwell walks in the front gate but is ushered out by one of the elderly brothers. He walks around the back and climbs over a wall before picking up a spade and using it to kill Dick in the kitchen and Roger by the stairs.

  17. Shop - buys some crisps and chocolate from McColls

    Leaves soon after killings and heads up Cowick Hill, past Broadway Stores to McColls.

  18. Ide - Goes to the pub

    CCTV captures him at the Twisted Oak and The Huntsman.

  19. Retraces steps back to town.

    He goes back past 109 Cowick Lane. CCTV captures him walking along the road at the back of the property.

  20. Spends the night in Exeter city centre

    Thought to have slept rough near the Castle.

  21. Monday February 11

    5am - Enters the Rougemont Hotel in Queen Street and attacks the night porter with glass bowl. Chases chef and female night manager around the car park with lamp stand

  22. Arrested by police

    Police use taser to subdue violent suspect

  23. Taken to hospital

    Lewis-Ranwell examined by a doctor and taken to Wonford Hospital.

  24. Body of Mr Payne found in Bonhay Road

    Murder investigation launched

  25. Tuesday, February 12

    Bodies of Dick and Roger Carter discovered. Lewis-Ranwell arrested on suspicion of murder while still in hospital.

  26. November 18, 2019 trial

    Defendant denies three charges of murder on the basis he was insane at the time

The prosecution say the defendant suffers from a serious mental illness but does bear some responsibility for the killings.

"He suffered from delusions," said the prosecutor.

"He genuinely believes something to be the case when it is not so at all.

"He believed he was in some way involved in uncovering a long standing paedophile ring which was holding and abusing children and his victims were somehow involved in that. These were delusions. They were the victims of course and not involved in any such thing."

Facebook group for Exeter & Devon Court Cases


Exeter Crown Court 3.PNG 

It will be up to the jury to decide how much responsibility Lewis-Ranwell has for the killings.

The prosecution say Lewis-Ranwell has only a partial defence to murder due to his mental health at the time.  At the least, he is guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. The defence say he has a complete defence for his actions because he was insane.

"The Crown does not accept the evidence in this case adequately allows him to be found not guilty by reason of insanity."

The trial continues.