Warwick woman accused of lying to protect boyfriend in murder trial

Sarah Devoisey, 22, formerly of St Laurence Avenue, Warwick, denies the charge, made during the trial of her former boyfriend, David Veall, from Tile Hill, Coventry.

At Warwick Crown Court on Monday Veall pleaded not guilty to the murder of Warren Lenagh, on June 25 last year.

Mr Lenagh died as a result of 17 stab wounds, one of which had gone between his ribs and penetrated his heart.

At the time of the incident Devoisey was staying with Veall at his bedsit in Upper Stoke, Coventry, where Mr Lenagh - who the court heard may have taken a shine to Devoisey - was occupying a neighbouring room.

When Mr Lenagh knocked on Veall’s door with a take-away curry and holding a pint glass he accused him of locking Devoisey in the room.

A fight erupted which led to another witness at the scene reporting that Veall had pulled a knife from his jeans and run at Mr Lenagh.

Sarah Keene said she saw Veall’s right arm go “in a stabbing motion” to Mr Lanagh’s left side.

But in her evidence to the police Devoisey insisted Veall did not have a knife and was trying to take something from Mr Lenagh, who then ran downstairs and collapsed outside on the pavement.

An ambulance was called to take him to hospital but he was declared dead just after midnight.

Shortly afterwards, Veall and Devoisey left the bedsit and went to his mother’s house where they were interviewed two hours later.

Veall told police Mr Lanagh had the knife and there had been a struggle as he tried to take it from him which may have led to the fatal injuries.

Prosecutor Andrew Fisher, QC, told the court this was how matters stood until March this year when, just two days before Veall was due to stand trial, Devoisey told her brother that on the night in question Veall had dumped a knife in bushes in Brighton Street, Coventry, as they made their way to his mother’s house.

Police subsequently recovered a knife which led to the original trial being adjourned until this week.

Devoisey was then arrested and accused of falsely claiming that she had not seen a knife.

Mr Fisher said: “We say she plainly did see it and knew where it had been put. Her conduct of denying he (Veall) had a knife and misleading the police during the investigation was interfering with the course of justice.”

The trial continues.