A man described as a 'monster' has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 31 years for the brutal axe murder of his cousin. Donald Excell, 50, carried out a 'frenzied attack' on Rita Lambourne, 58, inside her own home on February 12 last year, inflicting at least five blows to her head, face, chest, and arms.
The Attack
Excell, of Seabourne Road, Bexhill, entered Ms Lambourne's home through an unlocked back door while she was on the phone with her partner, Ashley Panahandehkafifar. The victim dropped the phone as she was attacked, and her partner heard shouts before the line went dead. He immediately contacted Ms Lambourne's daughter, Lucie, who then asked Claire Haldane to check on her sister. Ms Haldane discovered Ms Lambourne in the front room and began CPR, but she could not be saved.
Sentencing
At Hove Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Christine Henson KC sentenced Excell to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 31 years, minus 464 days already spent in custody. The judge stated, 'I am sure you planned this action before setting off to her home that evening,' and described the attack as 'frenzied' and occurring within Rita's own home. Excell, who was unrepresented, offered no mitigation.
The court heard that Excell had 21 convictions since 1992, including low-level violence, and had previously assaulted his father by biting him on the nose. In 2023, Ms Lambourne gave Excell a lift, during which he threatened to kill her 'like a crazed maniac.' After that incident, she blocked him on social media and sent a text saying, 'I didn't deserve that, I hope you sort yourself out soon, I wish you all the best.'
Victim Impact
In a victim impact statement, Ms Haldane said she would 'never forget the horror I physically felt and saw that night.' She added that Excell had tried to split the family apart, but 'he has not won and has no power or control over any of us any more.' Mr Panahandehkafifar called Excell a 'monster' and expressed grief that his partner was attacked with no one there to rescue her.
Ms Lambourne was remembered as 'kind, caring and full of laughter,' and her death has left an 'irreplaceable void' for her loved ones. The judge noted the 'sad irony' that Excell's cruel act had actually repaired family rifts.
Investigation
For much of the investigation, police could not locate the axe or the clothes Excell wore on CCTV. However, in September last year, teenagers fishing near Bexhill discovered a rucksack in the water containing clothes and the sheath of an axe, weighed down with a sandbag. The judge awarded the teenagers the High Sheriff's award for their 'astonishing forensic and responsible actions.'
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell of Sussex Police praised the 'meticulous work' of detectives and specialist officers, stating that the sentence ensures 'that the man responsible for this brutal crime will now face the consequences of his actions.'
Speaking outside court, Ms Haldane, alongside brother Andrew Cheese and Ms Lambourne's daughters Lucie and Kerry, said Excell is behind bars 'where he belongs.' She added, 'Now we can sleep easy at night and slowly start building our lives and trying to move forward as a really, really strong, united family.'
