Abigail White Bristol: Model, 24, given life sentence after jury finds her guilty of murdering Bradley Lewis

A 24-year-old model has been given a life sentence with a minimum term of 18 years after being found guilty of murdering her boyfriend, Bradley Lewis following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

A jury heard how Abigail White stabbed 22-year-old Bradley during an incident at a property in Chipperfield Drive, Kingswood, on the evening of Friday 25 March. He died in hospital in the early hours of the following day.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Bradley had died after suffering a single stab wound to the heart.

White carried out the attack after the couple, who had three children together, were seen on CCTV rowing at the Horseshoe pub.

The trial heard how White ‘thrust’ the knife into his chest, but she claimed she picked up the blade to “shock and scare” him and did not realise what she had done until it was too late.

A neighbour, Laura Cundy, heard White screaming “he can’t breathe” and dialled 999, and when she entered the house she found Mr Lewis lying on the kitchen floor.

White had already admitted manslaughter but denied intentionally killing him. But a jury today found her guilty of murder.

Senior Investigating Officer DI Ben Lavender said: “Bradley was a much-loved young man, a father, with his whole life ahead of him. Abigail White cruelly snatched that life away by her callous and selfish actions.

“In her initial account, she tried to claim Bradley stabbed himself, which was a cruel lie, but due to the evidence gathered by our team she admitted a charge of manslaughter at a previous court hearing. This trial was held because the prosecution maintained she had murdered Bradley, and this was backed up by the jury’s verdict.

“We were determined to carry out a thorough and painstaking investigation to achieve justice for Bradley – with our team of officers and police staff gathering and reviewing evidence, including CCTV footage, an extensive number of social media posts and voice messages, as well as taking more than 200 statements and carrying out seven video-recorded interviews.

“My thoughts, and the thoughts of the whole policing team, are with Bradley’s family, who have shown tremendous dignity and courage throughout. Their loss is unimaginable, and I hope this outcome will help them to feel the person responsible for his death has now been brought to justice.

“I want to thank all those who provided statements and information during our investigation, as well as the local community, who were clearly impacted by the gravity of this offence, but who supported us as we carried out enquiries at the scene and in their local area.”