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Woman Cleared in Tesco Car Park Death Case
9 Feb
Summary
- Woman acquitted of unlawfully killing amputee Wayne Ambridge.
- Court heard dispute stemmed from relationship between families.
- Judge cited lack of evidence for manslaughter charge.
A woman, identified as Karen Lynn, has been acquitted of the unlawful killing of amputee Wayne Ambridge, who died after an assault in a Tesco car park on November 4, 2023. Lynn, 43, admitted assault and received an absolute discharge at St Albans Crown Court, having already been found not guilty of murder. The court heard that the incident stemmed from a dispute between Lynn's and Ambridge's families over a relationship between their children.
During the retrial, the court was told Ambridge had grabbed Lynn's legs, causing her to fall. Lynn then kicked Ambridge, and her partner, Stuart Smith, punched him. While Ambridge initially showed no obvious signs of injury, hospital checks revealed a bleed on the brain, and he died a few days later. Prosecutors argued Lynn encouraged Smith's assault, but the judge found no evidence of her illegal participation in the manslaughter.
Smith, 43, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for five years in 2024. He was also convicted of assaulting Ambridge's son. The judge noted Lynn had fractured her elbow during the fracas and had spent seven months in custody, a period longer than any potential sentence for her admitted assault.
