‘How do you ever make sense of such a wicked act?’: Family’s heartbreak over stranger who murdered grandmother, 74, at random as she walked home – hours after he warned doctors he’d kill someone

The family of a grandmother who was stabbed to death by a complete stranger as she walked home from Lidl ‘to get her 10,000 steps in’ has issued a heartbreaking tribute.

Lorna England, 74, was murdered by Cameron Davis in Exeter in February 2023, after he told hospital staff that he would ‘kill a random’ person if he was not sectioned.

As the inquest into her death concluded today, her family said she will forever be remembered in their hearts as ‘Lovely Lorn’.

Mrs England’s sister read a statement on behalf of the family and said: ‘Known fondly as “Lovely Lorn” by those close to her, Lorna was a beloved wife of 52 years, mother, grandmother and sister. 

‘She was a kind and loving lady who lived life to the full and was the most content person you could ever wish to meet.

‘Her smile lit up the room and her gentle nature made everyone feel welcome and loved. She had a quiet strength and a generous heart; always putting others before herself.

‘Lorna enjoyed spending time with her family whether that was holidays with her husband, an exercise class with her daughter or a spot of DIY with her son. 

‘She loved to stay healthy because she wanted to be around for as long as she could to enjoy special times with her family – something which has now been so cruelly stolen from us.’

The family expressed their gratitude to the emergency services, the Major Crime and Investigation Team at Devon and Cornwall Police and to a witness who challenged Davis after the attack.

The family added: ‘We all have a permanent empty void because we miss Lorna so much. From the moment we wake up, we relive the shock and horror that she is no longer with us and we take that to bed every night.

‘We will never come to terms with the death of such a wonderful lady. How do you ever make sense of such a wicked act?’

An inquest into her death at County Hall in Exeter concluded on Wednesday that she died an unlawful death. 

Davis was previously sentenced to life in prison for murder and will serve a minimum of 28 years.

Lawyers representing the family said changes need to be made in how potentially dangerous people like Davis are dealt with in the community.

Mrs England, a retired civil servant, was returning home from purchasing flour at her local Lidl on February 18, 2023 when she was killed as she walked through Ludwell Valley Park. She suffered fatal stab wounds to the heart and neck.

Davis had been assessed by mental health practitioners in A&E just hours before her death, and told staff he would kill a stranger if they did not section him.

He had called police on 999 at 4.41am and threatened to take his own life in a fire at his accommodation unless he was arrested.

Paramedics attended and found Davis sitting on the pavement outside, where he threatened to kill someone if he was discharged.

He was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, where two psychiatrists and an advanced mental health practitioner decided that he did not need to be admitted. 

After he was allowed to leave by hospital staff he purchased a knife and two bottles of vodka. 

He then spent time loitering in Ludwell Valley Park before Mrs England crossed paths with him on her way home.

Having been stabbed in the heart and neck, she sadly died at the scene. Davis was arrested five hours later by armed police, and told officers: ‘I f***ing warned you… the people in the hospital should pay for this.’

At trial it was heard he chose a ‘random stranger’ to kill because he was angry about losing his accommodation and not being given a hospital bed.

The circumstances leading up to the killing and Davis’s interaction with health services and police were examined by the coroner at Lorna’s inquest.

In statements to the coroner, her husband David said they were struggling to come to terms with her loss.

Her son Richard said she was the ’embodiment of warmth and kindness’ who put others before herself.

And her daughter Jackie said the grandmother was ‘always up for a laugh and a giggle’ and would be the last one to leave the party or dance.

Hollie Muckley, from HCC Solicitors, acting for the family said changes need to be made in how potentially dangerous individuals are dealt with in the community.

She said: ‘The 18 February 2023 started off as a normal Saturday in the England household. Lorna decided to walk to the shops as she wanted to achieve her daily 10,000 steps. Little did she know the horror that was awaiting her.

‘Two years on and the family is still struggling to make sense of what happened.

‘Why hadn’t the police, clinical staff and housing agencies been involved in a multi-agency risk meeting about Davis?

‘Why hadn’t Devon Partnership Trust added Davis to a waiting list in relation to his mental health when they were aware of his problems a year before Lorna’s death?

‘And why hadn’t the police responded to the 101 call from clinicians to report the threats Davis was making on the day he murdered Lorna?

‘The family and I still believe there’s a chance that Lorna’s death could have been avoided and that continues to torment her heartbroken relatives. The only thing they can hope for now is that lessons are learnt so that this never happens to another family.’

Davis denied murder and admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but was found guilty on Tuesday after a two week trial at Exeter Crown Court.

At his sentencing hearing in July 2024, Mrs England’s husband David, 83, who had been with Lorna for 54 years, told Davis: ‘Hopefully your life will not be an easy one – you will always be labelled a granny killer.’

He added: ’54 years ago I was privileged to meet and fall in love and marry Lorna – the most wonderful lady in the world. We raised two lovely children together.

‘Lorna was attacked and brutally murdered by Cameron Davis on the afternoon of Saturday 18 February 2023 – and since then my life has never been the same.

‘Lorna decided to walk to the shops as she wanted to achieve her 10,000 steps – not knowing the moment she was going to encounter.

‘She must have been so scared and filled with terror at seeing you with a knife in your hand.

‘I hate to think what she must have gone through and the last thoughts in her head as she tried to defend herself.

‘This constantly plays on my mind, how someone could be so evil. It breaks my heart the last face she saw was yours – a cowardly, brutal monster.

‘How could you do something like this to someone so bright, cheery and positive.

‘She was an incredibly strong and brave lady – always retained a positive and calm attitude with whatever she had to face.

‘Lorna was my guiding light, soulmate and had everything to live for. It haunts me how much pain she would have suffered being brutally stabbed by Cameron Davis.

‘I feel lost and lonely without Lorna by my side. You forever broke the hearts of our family.

‘I feel like I have been sentenced and the one being punished – she gave me purpose to wake up and I have a massive emptiness in my heart without her.

‘All our lives have been utterly destroyed by you Cameron Davis.

‘I have frequent visions and flashbacks and how could a person be so brutal and walk away to visit pubs and having drinks as if nothing happened

‘No punishment you will receive will ever be adequate compared to the pain and torture you inflicted on Lorna, myself and her family.’