Woman cleared of unlawful killing in Tesco fracas

A 43-year-old woman has been cleared of unlawfully killing an amputee who died after being assaulted during a fracas in a Tesco car park.

Violence broke out at the store in Hertford on 4 November 2023 and Wayne Ambridge, 50, died after being punched during a dispute between two families.

Karen Lynn, of Cromwell Road, Ware, Hertfordshire, had already been found not guilty of murder and has now been cleared of manslaughter, having admitted assault. She was given an absolute discharge at St Albans Crown Court.

Lynn's partner, Stuart Smith, who was 43, admitted manslaughter after punching Ambridge, who had one leg, and he was jailed for five years in 2024. He was also cleared of murder.

Smith was also convicted of assaulting Ambridge's son, Reece, causing actual bodily harm.

Jurors at his trial had found Lynn not guilty of murder, but could not return a verdict on the manslaughter charge.

They had heard Lynn's family and Ambridge's family were in dispute over a relationship between Reece Ambridge and Lynn's daughter, Abi.

Lynn, who was released on bail after the first trial, went back in the dock earlier this month when Judge Jeremy Donne began overseeing a retrial.

Jurors at the retrial heard that Ambridge had grabbed Lynn's legs and brought her down during the fracas - and he had fallen in the process.

Lynn, who was a learning support assistant at a school, had then kicked Ambridge in the body - and Smith had punched him around the head.

Ambridge had been seen by police and had no obvious signs of serious injury.

But hospital checks later showed that he had a bleed on the brain - and he died a few days after the assault.

Prosecutors argued that Lynn was guilty of manslaughter because she had encouraged Smith's assault.

But, on Monday, Judge Donne directed jurors to find Lynn, not guilty of manslaughter.

The judge said he had concluded that Lynn could not be found guilty of manslaughter after hearing prosecution evidence and arguments by lawyers representing her.

"There is absolutely no evidence that she did or said anything to encourage Stuart Smith at that stage," he said.

"I have come to the conclusion that there is simply no evidence of illegal participation by her in the manslaughter."

The judge concluded that Lynn should be given an absolute discharge, meaning she would face no punishment, after being told that she had spent seven months remanded in custody following her arrest.

He said that was a longer sentence than any jail term she could be given for the assault.

The judge heard that Lynn had fractured her elbow when Ambridge brought her to the floor.

He said she had lost her temper and seen "red".

But he said any injuries she inflicted had not caused Ambridge's death.

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