A 70-year-old woman has appeared in court accused of murdering her husband in their flat in Brighton.
Joanna Rowland-Stuart, formerly known as John Stuart, was aided by a British Sign Language interpreter at Lewes Crown Court this morning (Monday 3 June) but was unable to follow the hearing after the battery died in her cochlear implant.
The defendant, appearing via video link from Lewes prison, did not enter a plea over the death of her husband Andrew Rowland-Stuart.
Mr Rowland-Stuart was known previously as Angie or Angela Rowland-Stuart, Angie or Angela Rowland and Andy or Andrew Rowland.
The emergency services were called to their home in Lavender Street after 7.30pm last Monday (27 May) but despite paramedics’ efforts to save the 70-year-old man, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A plea hearing was set for Friday 19 July while a trial date was set for Monday 25 November this year.
The court also checked about mobility issues and heard that the defendant was able to walk.
Judge Christine Laing, the honorary recorder of Brighton and Hove, said: “As you both will be aware, no court in Lewes, Brighton or Hove is disability compliant and therefore if the defendant’s mobility is a real issue, I would have to look at transferring this case to another court.”
In an appeal from Sussex Police last week after the incident, Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and our inquiries are ongoing as we seek to establish the full circumstances which led to Andrew’s tragic death. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones at this difficult time.
“In the meantime, we are urging the public not to speculate but to come forward with any information which may be able to assist us.”
Brighton Man!
No. She’s a woman.
Why bother writing a news story that excludes facts. It’s a choice, not a law.
I’m only here because this site has had better inclusion of actual facts, than the Argus and BBC et al.
Whats the point anymore. Turtle kicks donkey. Its all made up! Stop putting these crimes in WOMEN’s names!!!!!
Pardon can you repeat all that but in English ?
Brighton and Hove News are lying to us. This is not a Woman. #NotOurCrimes. Stop recording and reporting men’s crimes as women’s.
No matter how many clueless bigots cry about it, trans women are women. Real women. Biologically women. Your inability and unwillingness to understand and accept facts of science, doesn’t make them untrue. Your understanding of the issue is worse than that of the 1930s. Unfortunately, your lot burned down the institute for sexology and its research. She’s far from the first female murderer. Get over it.
“..reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command”
HMP Lewes, where the accused is being held, is a male prison.
The accused is a trans woman and should be referred to as such. Sussex Police need to stop gaslighting the public. Journalists and editors should stop going along with it.
Jo bartosch on Spiked today has covered the story well. As did Daily Mail. This local press were misleading. The best is gendercriticalwoman.com