UK - Rushden - Levi Davis, 25 stabbed after road rage 7th Dec 2019 *arrest*

[CoverMeCagney]

• Levi Davis, 25, was stabbed during a fight in Rushden, Northants, on Saturday
• Lucas Barnard, was arrested on suspicion of murder, but has now been released
• Levi's boyfriend Jake Swords is charged with attempted murder of Mr Barnard
• Detectives acknowledged the late-night development would be 'confusing'
• It comes as Levi's ex-partner Matt Lewinton paid tribute to the young mother

The father of tragic Levi Davis' two young children today revealed he hasn't told them about her death.

Her former partner Matt Lewinton, who is now raising her daughters aged two and five, said: 'I can't bring myself to them them yet. They are safe and that's all that matters for now. Everything else is irrelevant. My focus is looking after them. She was one of the most women in the world. I couldn't have asked for a better woman than her to be the mother to my children. She was one in a million. I can't tell you how much she meant to me.'

Mr Lewinton spoke as police said a man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ms Davis has been released without charge.

Levi suffered fatal stab wounds as her boyfriend Jake Swords, 27, fought with Lucas Barnard, 27, in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on Saturday night.

Mr Barnard was arrested on suspicion of her murder. Swords was attempting to murder Mr Barnard.

But, in a bizarre twist in the case, detectives have now freed Mr Barnard and said they are not hunting any further suspects in relation to her death.

They took the decision after viewing CCTV of the incident.

EDIT - not sure what happened with my links, "computer says no" tonight, have removed as @scapa has provided MSM below

 

[scapa]

• Levi Davis, 25, was stabbed during a fight in Rushden, Northants, on Saturday
• Lucas Barnard, was arrested on suspicion of murder, but has now been released
• Levi's boyfriend Jake Swords is charged with attempted murder of Mr Barnard
• Detectives acknowledged the late-night development would be 'confusing'
• It comes as Levi's ex-partner Matt Lewinton paid tribute to the young mother

The father of tragic Levi Davis' two young children today revealed he hasn't told them about her death.

Her former partner Matt Lewinton, who is now raising her daughters aged two and five, said: 'I can't bring myself to them them yet. They are safe and that's all that matters for now. Everything else is irrelevant. My focus is looking after them. She was one of the most women in the world. I couldn't have asked for a better woman than her to be the mother to my children. She was one in a million. I can't tell you how much she meant to me.'

Mr Lewinton spoke as police said a man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ms Davis has been released without charge.

Levi suffered fatal stab wounds as her boyfriend Jake Swords, 27, fought with Lucas Barnard, 27, in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on Saturday night.

Mr Barnard was arrested on suspicion of her murder. Swords was attempting to murder Mr Barnard.

But, in a bizarre twist in the case, detectives have now freed Mr Barnard and said they are not hunting any further suspects in relation to her death.

They took the decision after viewing CCTV of the incident.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7786237/Tragic-mother-Levi-Davis-ex-partner-says-told-two-young-girls-shes-dead.html

This is all a bit bizarre. My computer's playing up but there is a lot more within this report. If someone could fill in the gaps that would be great!

It's a crazy case for sure. BTW, your links seem to lead to a spam news site -- attaching the correct link and a BBC story below. There's a fair bit of local gossip on this case that may add some context.

From the BBC:

Det Insp Pete Long, senior investigating officer, said that the man arrested on suspicion of murder was released after talks with the Crown Prosecution Service.

"I know there is an extensive amount of interest and speculation surrounding this case and I know this decision may leave many people confused, he said.

"However I want to reassure the community in Rushden that this has been an exceptionally thorough investigation involving very experienced detectives from across the region."

He added it "will be a source of frustration to many people that we are unable to go into more detail", but acknowledged the ongoing court proceedings.

Man, 27, arrested over 'murder' of young mother Levi Davis is RELEASED without charge | Daily Mail Online

'Car crash' murder suspect released

 

[Elainera]

A man accused of fatally stabbing a young mum close to her home has been cleared after CCTV footage showed him acting in self defence, sources have claimed.

Lucas Barnard, 27, was held on suspicion of murder after Levi Davis, 25, was allegedly stabbed at 8.30pm on Saturday and died at the scene in Rushden, Northamptonshire.

It was suspected that Mr Barnard stabbed Miss Davis following her attempts to intervene in a fight between the two men.

Young mum's suspected killer freed after 'CCTV shows he acted in self defence'

 

[Ann Blyth]

Some sort of partial update in this case, seems it was also listed for 16 January this year....

Man, 30, arrested in connection with Rushden incident that left Levi Davis dead

 

[Ann Blyth]

Just adding this article, absolutely tragic

One-in-a-million' mum, 25, stabbed to death by ACCIDENT as 'high quality CCTV' shows knifeman fight with her boyfriend

 

[Ann Blyth]

Ok so was definitely listed at Northampton CC for 16 January, for PCMH, but haven’t managed to find the next hearing date ggrrrrr!

https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/crown-court-daily/46/lists/2020-01-16

 

[Kasmeer]

Looking at some old threads I was curious how this one ended up... well it never will end in a trial as the suspect died before it got that far:

(22nd June 2021)

https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/crime/rushden-attempted-murder-suspect-dies-in-prison-3281889

A man who was charged over an incident which led to the tragic death of Rushden mum Levi Davis has died in prison.
Jake Swords, 28, had been on remand in custody for more than 18 months, accused of an attack on Lucas Barnard near St George's Way, off Wellingborough Road, on December 7, 2019.


A friend of the suspect however pleaded guilty to assisting an offender (by hiding one of the weapons used), and received 4.5 years in prison, which allowed the whole story to be told in court. There's a long article on exactly what happened here: (26th Jul 2021) https://www.northantstelegraph.co.u...ung-people-dead-and-a-third-in-prison-3323877

The crown's case was that Levi Davis and her boyfriend Jake Swords, 28, had gone out looking for victim Luke Barnard, who had been in a relationship with Levi's sister Jordan Davis, after a row between the sisters had been stoked by others. After finding him and crashing a van into him, the pair got out of their white van, both armed with knives, and began a vicious assault.

Luke Barnard was stabbed but, despite extensive injuries and a broken ankle, managed to take one of the knives that Levi Davis and Jake Swords had brought to the scene off Wellingborough Road and stabbed Levi Davis in self-defence.

As she lay dying in the street, her boyfriend Swords took his knife and handed it to his friend Anthony Spring, 30, who had watched the assault unfold. He wiped it on the grass, ran off, and hid it.


Much more detail at the link. What a mess, so many lives ruined over such a stupid thing; I hope Luke Barnard has been able to move on and rebuild his life.