Man who killed pensioners 'had history of cannabis-induced psychosis'

A man who killed three elderly people in their own homes had a history of cannabis-induced psychosis, inquests have been told.

Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, now 35, had been arrested twice and released from custody before he killed Anthony Payne, 80, and twins Roger and Dick Carter, 84.

Mr Payne was attacked with a hammer, while the Carter brothers were bludgeoned to death with a shovel.

The attacks took place just three hours apart at two houses a mile and a half away from each other in Exeter, Devon, on 10 February 2019 - hours after Lewis-Ranwell was released from custody.

He was arrested on 8 February, released the next day, re-arrested hours later, and then released again before going on to kill.

The inquests at County Hall in Exeter have heard how Lewis-Ranwell had been detained in psychiatric units from June to September 2016, and August to November the following year.

Jurors were read extracts from medical notes compiled during his two stays under the Mental Health Act.

The records of his first admission detailed a diagnosis of "drug-induced psychosis or paranoid schizophrenia", a history of cannabis use, and that Lewis-Ranwell believed he was Jesus.

He had been detained after threatening to kill his father and then stole his car.

The notes stated: "Back in January, things got particularly bad.

"He went to his father's house and dumped his horses upon his father's land and pulled down fences so they would have more space to roam.

"He was talking about the Kray twins and made threats to kill his father. He also threw a hot drink at him and some crockery."

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The inquests also heard that while in the psychiatric unit Lewis-Ranwell had set fire to a bin in his room and held patients "hostage" in the lounge.

On Tuesday, the inquests heard Lewis-Ranwell had suffered from delusions about paedophiles and kidnappers hours before the killings.

The inquests continue.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man who killed pensioners 'had history of cannabis-induced psychosis'