'I'm no killer but my life is ruined' (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

'I'm no killer but my life is ruined'

Owen Bygraves Pic ref: 78795-7WHEN Owen Bygraves phoned up for a job interview the person at the other end of the line hung up as soon as he gave his name.

Rejection is hard enough for most people but when you know it is because you have been called a murderer in a high-profile murder case even though no charges have been brought against you it must be even more devastating.

Everywhere the 35-year-old goes in Swindon at the moment all people want to talk to him about is the Mick Love trial, in which the defence team pointed the finger at him, claiming he was the one who stabbed the postal worker.

Mr Bygraves says his life is in tatters after he was falsely accused by Colin Lewin's counsel during the 11-day trial.

He has now lost his job and his partner.

The father-of-five said: "The police knew 100 per cent I didn't do it.

"Colin Lewin has dragged my name in to question for something I have never done."

Mr Bygraves is desperate to clear his name and get on with his life.

Leaving Swindon and starting afresh is not an option and why should he, he says, when he has done nothing wrong.

Mr Lewin, 35, of Broad Street, was cleared of the attack on Mr Love, who was killed in a brutal stabbing during a robbery in Cannon Street on September 27 last year.

But Mr Bygraves, who was accused of the same crime during the course of the court case, has not had his name cleared in the same public way.

He insists he had nothing to do with it and the first thing he knew about it was when he saw it on the news.

"There is no evidence to support that it was me," he said. "There's nothing to say it was me. If the police thought I did it they would arrest me."

Mr Bygraves used to work in the building trade for a local company, but the court case, which ended on Friday, July 29, changed all that and now he finds himself suddenly unemployed and alone.

"My girlfriend got so stressed out she has left me," he said.

"She's never been in trouble with the police before and I can understand that.

"We had 32 police officers searching my house and she didn't need that.

"And I have lost my job, all for something I haven't done.

"I rung up for an interview the other day and as soon as I said my name they hung up."

Mr Bygraves, whose father died shortly before the trial, has had to move out of the home he shared with partner Claire Glover, 32, and their two children, 12-year-old Jake and younger sister Kasey in Abbey Meads.

His three other children are from previous relationships.

He is currently staying with a friend in Penhill and is angry about the devastating effect the case has had on his life.

"I've been living on my mate's settee since the case started," he said.

"My life's been ruined but I can't leave Swindon. I'm not guilty so why should I?

"Colin Lewin says all he wants to do is get on with his life but what about mine?"

Mr Bygraves said he is most sorry for the pain the last weeks and months have caused his family.

"My oldest son is 12 and he can read what goes in the papers and so can his friends," he said.

"They know I've been accused of being a murderer and everywhere I go people want to talk to me about it. I've got to clear my name.

"I really do want to apologise to my kids and my girlfriend for all they have been through because I love them dearly and it was out of my control."

I feel so sorry for Mick's family

OWEN Bygraves was a former colleague of murdered Mick Love and he says he feels for his family.

Mr Love's death sparked a massive police search during which officers knocked on dozens of doors, stopped more than 40 people in the street and poured over hours of CCTV footage.

Mr Bygraves said he first heard about the attack on the news the following morning.

He said: "I was watching TV and I recognised him. I called my girlfriend in to show her. It was shocking."

Mr Love's friends described him as a fun-loving man who never got angry and was a gentle giant.

"I used to work with Mick Love, he was my supervisor, and he was a good bloke," Mr Bygraves said.

"I really do feel for his family. I have just buried my dad and I'm still not over it.

"I know how it feels to lose someone close.

"But they (Mr Love's family) have sat through the whole case and they must know in their hearts it wasn't me."