UK NEWS

BOYFRIEND: WE HAD A BIG ROW BUT I DID NOT KILL SALLY ANNE

ROW: Lewis Sproston

Thursday February 7,2008

By John Twomey

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THE boyfriend of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman yesterday denied stabbing her to death after a blazing row outside her home.

Plasterer Lewis Sproston was accused of killing the 18-year-old during an argument over whether they had been faithful to each other.

He was giving evidence at the trial of chef Mark Dixie who denies murdering Sally Anne and violating her body as she was dead or dying.

In a tense exchange with defence counsel Anthony Glass QC at the Old Bailey, Mr Sproston, 22, dismissed repeated suggestions that he was the real killer.

Mr Sproston told the court how he had given Sally Anne a lift on the night she died.

The couple, whose two-year tempestuous relationship was marked by jealousy and frequent break-ups, squabbled for up to two hours in his car.

The row became briefly physical when they got out, he said. Sally Anne grabbed at his neck and pulled off his silver chain as he pushed her away.

Hours after the killing, Mr Sproston was arrested on suspicion of murder. Before knowing why he was being held, he told a police officer: “Is this about the row with my girlfriend last night?”

Mr Glass asked him: “Were you frightened someone had seen what had happened on the pavement? That someone had heard Sally scream?”

Mr Sproston replied: “No, I wasn’t frightened. I didn’t know Sally had screamed.” Mr Glass asked: “Did you leave her dead or dying?” Mr Sproston: “Are you being serious?”

Mr Glass: “Yes, I am being serious. Did you leave her dead or dying?” Mr Sproston: “No.”

Mr Glass suggested Mr Sproston was afraid a neighbour had witnessed the row on the pavement. Mr Sproston replied: “No, I was not afraid. We did not have a blazing row.” Mr Glass: “Did you lose your temper and kill her?” Mr Sproston replied firmly: “No.”

Sally Anne, a promising model, died outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, Croydon, south London, early on September 25, 2005.

The jury heard that she, her sister Nicole and some friends had gone to a bar in Croydon on the Saturday evening. Mr Sproston, a non-drinker, had gone to a nightclub in Kingston, Surrey.

Mr Sproston said they had been going through one of their temporary break-ups to give each other “some space”.

Sally Anne was jealous and suspected he may be seeing other girls. Later they spoke on the phone and he agreed to collect her. Mr Sproston said he parked the car outside her home. At first they quarrelled, then kissed and made up before rowing again.

His last glimpse of Sally Anne was in the rear-view mirror as he drove off. She was dead within minutes. Mr Sproston was arrested at 2pm that day but was later released without charge.

The trial of Dixie, who is of no fixed address, continues.