They got the wrong man (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

They got the wrong man

COLIN Lewin warned that the killer is "still out there" as he was cleared of murdering Swindon father-of-two Mick Love.

The verdict was met with gasps of shock from the Love family who were sat on one side of the court room while cries of relief came from Lewin's friends and relatives.

Mr Lewin, 35, of Broad Street, always denied stabbing the postal worker in a robbery in Cannon Street, on September 27, last year.

He smiled and cheered as he left Bristol Crown Court yesterday after an 11-day trial.

"It's been hell the last few months being away from my family and daughter," he said as he got into a car and was driven off by a family member," he said.

"Swindon police have got the wrong man. The man is still out there."

Mr Love's family were too distraught to comment after the verdict but Det Supt Paul Richards of Swindon police, read a statement on their behalf.

"Michael was a loving son, husband, father and friend and nothing will ever compensate them for this terrible crime," he said.

"Michael will always be remembered with love."

The officer said Wiltshire Police would now re-investigate the murder case. The jury took 11 hours of deliberations to come to the not guilty verdict.

As the words were read out by the foreman, Mr Love's mother shouted out 'Oh no' before gasps were heard around the court room.

Mr Lewin's girlfriend, Sarah Mackintosh, who was sat in front of the Love family, cried with relief before looking into the dock where her boyfriend was standing. Outside the court a family member, who did not want to be named, said: "Justice is a beautiful thing."

Throughout the trial Mr Lewin, who worked at Avon Tyres, Melksham, claimed that the real killer was another man, Owen Bygraves.

Mobile phone records showed that Lewin had the dead man's mobile phone minutes after the attack but he insisted he bought it from Mr Bygraves.

CCTV footage also showed Mr Lewin, near the murder scene on the night of the attack but he insisted he was driving around Swindon having had an argument with his girlfriend Sarah Mackintosh.

"I did not see Mr Love while driving.

"I did not stab Mr Love, and I certainly did not rob Mr Love," he had told the court.

Lyndsay Scanlan