Hope Rowe, 33, stabbed Charlotte Lawlor at a child’s birthday, then bragged about the murder

What was meant to be a child’s joyful birthday party turned into a scene of unthinkable horror when Hope Rowe, 33, stabbed Charlotte Lawlor, a young mother, to death in Stepney Green, east London. The attack unfolded in the early hours of 15 September, and just minutes later, Rowe boasted it was “good” that she had done it.

Now, Rowe will serve life in prison, with a minimum of 23 years, for the brutal murder that has left a child without a mother and a family permanently scarred.

The violence erupted without warning at the party, where tensions escalated. Charlotte, 31, was stabbed once in the chest by Rowe, who then fled the scene. As Charlotte lay fatally wounded, Rowe showed no remorse. Instead, she left behind a chilling trail of arrogance and contempt.

Police tracked her through phone records, and damning evidence emerged in the form of a voicemail recording. In it, Rowe’s partner, Leigh Holder, 38, was heard advising her to dispose of the murder weapon and avoid capture. He chillingly said, “Get rid of the knife and your clothes.” Rowe, undeterred, replied that it was “good” that she had killed Charlotte.

The police wasted no time. Within hours, officers had both suspects in custody. While Rowe faced trial for murder, Holder pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

At Inner London Crown Court, Judge Nigel Peters KC condemned the attack, calling it “a savage and senseless act that destroyed a family.” During sentencing, the court heard how Charlotte’s young son will now grow up without the loving mother who had devoted her life to him.

Detective Sergeant Dean Musgrove of the Metropolitan Police described Rowe and Holder’s conduct as “despicable.” He said, “We are committed to relentlessly pursuing those who take lives, and those who think they can help them get away with it.”

Charlotte’s family delivered emotional victim impact statements during the trial. Her cousin, Jessie McBride, spoke on behalf of the grieving family: “Charlotte was amazing — driven, loving, full of heart. She adored her son, fought fiercely for him, and meant the world to all of us. Our lives will never be the same.”

The court heard that Charlotte had no prior connection to Rowe. The motive remains unclear, adding to the senselessness of the act. Friends and relatives say she had simply gone to the party to celebrate with her child.

The aftermath has left an emotional crater in the East London community. Local residents gathered for a vigil shortly after the killing, laying flowers near the crime scene. One neighbour said, “It’s hard to understand how something like this can happen during a child’s birthday party.”

The judge noted Rowe’s lack of remorse throughout the trial. Her cold statements to police and mocking tone in recorded conversations sealed the image of a remorseless killer.

As Rowe begins her lengthy prison term, the family of Charlotte Lawlor faces a lifetime of grief. Her son, just a small boy, must now grow up without the woman who loved him most. And a community is left asking how such a celebration could so quickly turn into a nightmare.