Man sentenced for murder following re-trial

“I wish I could stand here and say I’ve moved on with my life, and the pain, manipulation and abuse Robert Rhodes subjected me to has not ruined my life, but I can’t.

"I wish I could say that Robert Rhodes has not taken everything from me, but I can’t. Once this is all over, I can begin to rebuild my life from the ruins I have been left in. On that evening, Robert Rhodes not only murdered my mother, but he took my dad from me as well.”

The main witness in the re-trial of a man who was found guilty of the murder of his wife, a child under 10 who cannot be named for legal reasons, has spoken out for the first time today about the impact that his despicable crime has had on their life.

Robert Rhodes, 52, (DOB: 20/6/1973), from Withleigh, Devon, was sentenced today (16 January), after being found guilty of murder, child cruelty, perverting the course of justice and two counts of perjury following an eight-week re-trial at the Inner London Crown Court.

Describing the offences committed by Rhodes as "wicked and callous acts" Justice Naomi Ellenbogen sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum of 29 years and six months for murder. She added that Dawn was "a warm and vibrant woman" who Rhodes "violently deprived of life".

The sentence includes six years and nine months for child cruelty and perverting the course of justice and seven years for both counts of perjury. All sentences will run concurrently.

Dawn Rhodes

Rhodes was originally acquitted of the murder of his wife Dawn Rhodes on the grounds of self-defence but was re-tried after new evidence came to light.

Following the re-trial, which concluded on 12 December 2025, Rhodes was also found guilty of child cruelty by inflicting a wound to a child under 10 in an attempt to cover up this crime; guilty of perverting the course of justice by causing injuries to himself and the child, and by manipulating the child to cause them to injure him in an attempt to cover up this crime; and guilty of perjury at the Central Criminal Court in London in 2017 and perjury at the family court in 2018 for falsely giving evidence that he knew was untrue.

Reading their victim impact statement out in court, the child said: “Robert Rhodes lied to me, bribed me, made me feel special in order to manipulate and abuse me for his own gain leaving me ruined. He appeared to ‘help’ me at my most vulnerable and lowest time and lorded it over me gas lighting me parading as my saviour while controlling and destroying me and Dawn Rhodes.”

The court heard how Rhodes had originally been charged with Dawn’s murder but was acquitted in May 2017 following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in London after the jury believed his account that he had acted in self-defence and that Dawn had tried to attack him first.

In November 2021, a main witness in the trial, the child under 10, told their therapist that their father had planned Dawn’s murder and had manipulated them into being involved in it, which Rhodes described as “our plan”, and then made them lie about how their mother had died.

Following an application to the Court of Appeal in November 2024, the acquittal was quashed, and permission was granted for a retrial for the offence of murder.

Rhodes was also charged with child cruelty, perjury and perverting the course of justice.

During the trial, the court heard how that prior to Dawn’s death on 2 June 2016, the marriage between her and Rhodes had been in difficulty and he had filed for divorce.

At 7.34pm on 2 June, the child made a 999 call to police, during which Rhodes said that his wife had attacked him and their child with a knife, and that he had acted in self-defence.

When police attended, they found Dawn Rhodes lying on the kitchen floor. Her throat had been cut, to the extent it had severed all the structures in her neck.

Rhodes told police that Dawn had hit him twice on the back of the head. The child showed officers a deep laceration to their arm which they said had been caused by their mother.

Rhodes was arrested for murder that evening. During his police interview, he said that he and Dawn had been arguing in the kitchen when she picked up a knife and swung it towards the child, at which point he told the child to go upstairs.

He said that managed to get hold of the knife from Dawn and that she came at him in a fury, and he swung at her with the knife, making contact with her neck, before he ran upstairs and called police.

When the child was interviewed, they gave an account consistent with the one Rhodes had given as to how the injuries they had suffered had been inflicted.

Following a lengthy investigation, Rhodes was charged with murder and stood trial in May 2017.

The jury reached a majority verdict, finding Rhodes not guilty of murder on 30 May 2017.

After coming forward in November 2021, the child was interviewed and described how their father had caused the relationship with their mother to deteriorate and how he had manipulated them into helping Rhodes get rid of their mother.

The child also told police that during supervised contact with Rhodes in 2016 and 2017 (while he was on bail after being charged with Dawn’s murder), he had told them that they had “got some things wrong” and continued to give them instructions to stick to the plan.

Rhodes continued to manipulate and groom the child, even going as far as to hide a phone at his mother’s house when the child visited, on which he would leave messages reminding them about the agreement they had made to get rid of Dawn.

In their victim impact statement, the child said: “Robert Rhodes’ decision not only impacted the life that was stripped away, but the life I must now endure with the misery his actions have left me with. I struggled throughout school, both socially and academically, unable to form trusting friendships and unable to concentrate on lessons. The traumatic experience he put me through will never go away, the guilt and shame I feel will never go away, the scar Rhodes left me with when he sliced open my forearm will never go away.”

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dawn Rhodes. The loss they have suffered is immeasurable and cannot be underestimated.

“They have also had to deal with the fact that Robert Rhodes got away with murder for nine years, all the while knowing the misery and suffering he had inflicted on Dawn, not just on the night he killed her, but also leading up to her death.

“Secondly, I must also pay tribute to the child and their tremendous bravery in coming forward nine years after Dawn’s death to tell the truth about what happened.

“While it should be acknowledged that the child was under the age of criminal responsibility at the time of Dawn’s death and that they were not responsible for the acts that Rhodes manipulated them into doing, the realisation that they were complicit in Dawn’s death and coming forward to set the record straight nine years later, is nothing short of extraordinary.

“The fact that Rhodes not only murdered his wife in cold blood but then manipulated and groomed a child to play a part in his evil scheme and cover up what he had done is simply despicable - not only did he take a life; he irreparably damaged another, as well as the lives of everyone else who loved Dawn.

“During the first trial, Dawn was portrayed as the villain but had actually been a victim of domestic abuse and coercive control at the hands of her husband for years.

“Her tragic death draws attention to the need to dispel and challenge myths and stereotypes around who may or may not be victims of domestic abuse, and who indeed may be capable of causing such harm. Otherwise, many victims will feel unable to reach out, and will continue to suffer in silence, while those causing harm in relationships are able to exist unchecked.

"We would urge anyone who believes they, or a friend or family member, may be experiencing abuse to report it. If you have any concerns at all for yourself, or a loved one, we encourage you to seek help. In Surrey, there are specialist domestic abuse services working to ensure that survivors and their families/friends can access independent advice and support in confidence.

DCI Edey continued: “I would like to thank the investigation team for their tireless work in leaving no stone unturned to ensure Rhodes was brought to justice today, and a very special mention must be made to the family liaison officers who went above and beyond to assist the families throughout this investigation.

“I would also like to thank our partner agencies, particularly the Crown Prosecution Service.”

He added: “Lastly, I would like to thank the witnesses who assisted in giving evidence which helped to bring out the truth of the events from 2016, helping to piece together Robert Rhodes’ web of deceit, and the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence which has been presented throughout this trial.''

Anyone who believes they, or a friend or family member, may be experiencing abuse is urged to report it.

In Surrey, there are specialist domestic abuse services working to ensure that survivors and their families/friends can access independent advice and support in confidence, these can be accessed by calling the Surrey domestic abuse helpline on 01483 776822 or visiting https://www.healthysurrey.org.uk/domestic-abuse/help

“For anyone who feels they may be exhibiting harmful behaviour in their relationships, we urge you to contact the Surrey Steps to Change Hub via email: [email protected] or telephone 01483 900 905.”

Robert RHODES