PEMBROKESHIRE MAN JAILED FOR LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF YOUNG WOMAN
Lewis Haines, aged 31 from Flemish Court, Lamphey, Pembrokeshire, received a life sentence after admitting to the murder of 18-year-old Lily Sullivan.Haines claimed that his actions were not driven by sexual motives.
Lily’s body was found in Mill Pond, Pembroke, in the early hours of December 17, 2021.
Her mother, Anna, expressed her deep grief, stating, "I miss her so much.
I will never find peace." The court was informed that Haines strangled Lily out of frustration when she refused his sexual advances.
He maintained that there was no sexual assault involved, and evidence did not support this claim.
Judge Paul Thomas QC described the killing as particularly brutal, observing, "You strangled her face to face.
She was entirely at your mercy." The court also noted injuries on Lily’s face, neck, and other parts of her body.
Haines confided in his partner shortly after the incident, saying, "I’ve strangled someone." Lily had a close, sibling-like relationship with her mother, who described her as a talented artist and a typical teenager.
Her death caused profound distress to her family, with her mother describing her suffering as overwhelming, including panic attacks and feelings of terror.
The Crown Prosecution Service called the murder a heinous and callous crime that shocked the local community.
While the court acknowledged the absence of evidence for sexual assault, it highlighted the violence and brutality of the act, noting Haines’s concern for his own safety during the attack.
