On Crimes That Shook Britain, broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan is joined by a team of experts and witnesses to examine cases that gripped the nation to explore how they shaped public conversation. Series nine starts Monday, 16th September at 9pm on Crime + Investigation and features the devastating murder of Lee Pomeroy.
On 4th January 2019, IT consultant Lee Pomeroy was murdered on a London-bound train while travelling with his 14-year-old son. The attack took place just one day before his 52nd birthday. The incident, described as ‘unrelenting’ and ‘savage’ in court, shocked the nation.
It didn’t just highlight the long-standing issue of violent crime in the UK, but it also brought mental health concerns into focus. The attacker, 36-year-old Darren Pencille, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, the same condition diagnosed in Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the Yorkshire Ripper.
The incident
The 1:01pm train service from Guildford to London Waterloo started like any other. Passengers boarded the train, took their seats and settled in for the ride to the capital. But for Lee Pomeroy and his son, what started as a routine journey ended in heartbreak.
Shortly after boarding, Lee was involved in a brief but heated verbal altercation with fellow passenger, Darren Pencille. The dispute quickly escalated and ended with Pencille drawing a knife and stabbing Lee 18 times in less than 30 seconds.
The attack
The first stab wound was to the neck and severed the jugular vein, but Pencille didn’t let up. He continued his ‘quick and frenzied’ attack, stabbing Lee an additional 17 times. Passengers and transit staff attempted to provide first aid, but Lee died at the scene with his son by his side.
Pencille was known to the police and had previous criminal convictions for stabbing a man in the neck and possessing knives. He was also diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a history of failing to take medication.
The investigation
Police immediately launched a full-scale manhunt for Pencille. He had disembarked the train at the next station and was picked up by his girlfriend, Chelsea Mitchell. She drove him to her flat in Farnham where he attempted to hide from the police, but CCTV caught up with him. Police used footage to track his movements and arrest him the day after the murder.
The trial
Pencille was trialled at the Central Criminal Court in London. Also known as the Old Bailey, it’s the same high-profile court where criminals like child murderer Ian Huntley have appeared. Pencille’s lawyers claimed he acted in self-defence, but the jury wasn’t convinced. CCTV footage and witness testimonies clearly showed Pencille as the instigator.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, the judge who heard the case, described the CCTV footage as ‘breathtakingly shocking’ and maintained that anyone who watched it would struggle to believe Pencille’s claims of self-defence.
The prosecution also went after Pencille’s girlfriend, who was charged with assisting an offender. She admitted to helping Pencille but denied knowing about the murder at the time. Despite claiming innocence, the jury found her guilty of helping a criminal evade the police.
The verdict
On 12th July 2019, justice was served at the Old Bailey. Darren Pencille was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years. Chelsea Mitchell received a sentence of 28 months for her role in his attempt to hide.
‘Truly this was a senseless loss of life,’ said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb when announcing the sentences. The harsh punishments were welcomed by the community and reflected the gravity of the crime and the impact on Lee Pomeroy's family, particularly his young son.
The aftermath
The murder of Lee Pomeroy didn’t just traumatise his son and family. It shocked the entire country. His wife, Svetlana Pomeroy, described him as a loving husband and father, whose life was taken too soon.
‘I have lost my friend, my soulmate and my guide. Lee loved life and it's been cruelly cut short,’ said Svetlana.
Crown Prosecutor Jason Corden-Bowen agreed, condemning the attack as ‘a brutal and senseless killing of an innocent father who has been taken away from his family.’
Lee Pomeroy’s murder is a harrowing reminder of the unpredictable nature of violence and the devastating impact it can have on families and communities. But there are some valuable lessons to take away from the incident.
By building robust mental health support systems and closely monitoring individuals with a history of violence, alongside bolstering safety on public transport, the country can work towards preventing similar crimes in the future.
