Inquest hears of killer’s psychosis history and custody release

An inquest into the killings of three people in Exeter heard that Alexander LewisRanwell had a history of cannabis use and psychosis-related treatment, and had been released from police custody hours before the attacks in February 2019. LewisRanwell, now 35, killed Anthony Payne, 80, and twin brothers Roger and Dick Carter, 84, on February 10, 2019. Inquest testimony said Payne was attacked with a hammer and the Carter brothers with a shovel. The attacks took place about three hours apart at homes roughly a mile and a half from each other. Jurors at County Hall in Exeter were read extracts from medical records relating to LewisRanwell’s psychiatric admissions under the Mental Health Act. The records from an admission in 2016 described a diagnosis of drug-induced psychosis or paranoid schizophrenia, cannabis use and a belief that he was Jesus. LewisRanwell was detained in psychiatric units from June to September 2016 and again from August to November 2017, the inquests heard. The records also described earlier threats and disruptive behavior, including threats against his father.