A Devon man who murdered his wife and then manipulated their young child into supporting his false story has been sentenced to life in prison following a rare double jeopardy retrial.
A Web of Lies Unravels
Robert Rhodes, 52, was originally acquitted of murdering his wife, Dawn, in 2017. However, his conviction was secured this week at Inner London Crown Court after new evidence emerged from the couple's child, who was also injured during the 2016 attack.
The court heard that Rhodes stabbed his wife to death in their family home after discovering she was having an affair. In a desperate attempt to cover his tracks, he then wounded the child and coerced them into falsely claiming that Dawn had been the attacker.
The Child's Trauma and Truth
For years, Rhodes maintained this fabricated narrative. His deception finally collapsed four years after the murder when the child, who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lasting psychological trauma, confessed the true sequence of events to a therapist.
The child described being systematically gaslighted and manipulated by their father to uphold his story. This powerful testimony formed the cornerstone of the new prosecution case, leading to the rare double jeopardy trial where a person can be retried for the same offence after an acquittal.
Justice Served After Nine Years
On Friday 16 January 2026, Robert Rhodes was found guilty of murder. He was also convicted of perjury, perverting the course of justice, and child cruelty. The judge handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years and six months.
Following the sentencing, Dawn's mother expressed profound relief, stating that her daughter's voice had finally been heard after nearly a decade. The case highlights the severe and lasting impact of domestic violence and manipulation on children caught in such horrific circumstances.
