Trans woman, 70, appears in court accused of murdering her husband with a samurai sword

Friday, May 31, 2024 - A 70-year-old trans woman has appeared in court accused of murdering her husband with a samurai sword.

Retired LGBT rights worker Joanna Rowland-Stuart was charged with killing husband Andrew at their flat in Brighton.

Mrs Rowland-Stuart, who says she is deaf, confirmed her name through a sign language interpreter.

Emergency services were called to the 15th-floor flat on Lavender Street in the Kemptown area of the city on Monday evening, May 27.

Mr Rowland-Stuart, believed to have been murdered with a samurai sword, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: 'This is a fast-moving investigation and our enquiries 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.'

A spokesman for Sussex Police said emergency services responded to the incident in Lavender Street shortly after 7.30pm on Monday, May 27.

Mrs Rowland-Stuart was remanded in custody to appear again in Crown Court next week.