Lily Sullivan: Lewis Haines told partner he 'strangled somebody'
- Published
Lily Sullivan's body was found near Mill Pond, in Pembroke, in December 2021
A killer who murdered a young woman on a night out went home and told his partner: "I've strangled somebody".
Swansea Crown Court heard Lily Sullivan, 18, was found in Pembroke's Mill Pond, in December.
Lewis Haines, 31, of Flemish Court, Lamphey, Pembrokeshire, has admitted murder after they met on a night out.
A special hearing was held to allow the prosecution and defence to resolve factual disputes in the case before sentencing.
William Hughes QC, prosecuting, told the court Ms Sullivan and Haines, 31, met in Pembroke's Out nightclub in the early hours of Friday, 17 December.
She was with friends and due to be collected by her mother, Anna Sullivan, at 02:00 GMT.
Mr Hughes told the court Ms Sullivan and Haines left the club a few minutes apart, but started talking outside before walking to the lake.
Shortly before 04:00, Mr Hughes said Haines' partner, Maisie John, was woken by his arrival.
The court heard her describe him as "hysterical" and that he had said: "I've strangled somebody. They're in the mill pond."
Mr Hughes QC said police found Ms Sullivan face down in the water within hours.
She had been wearing a cream top and leather jacket but was no longer wearing these items.
'More distressed'
Her lace top, he said, was recovered in vegetation near the water and that "the prosecution's contention is it was clearly removed before Lily entered the water".
Dyfed Powys Police crime scene investigator, Alexander Morgan, said the top was dry when he examined it.
John Hipkin QC, defending, pointed out it was logged as "slightly damp" by a forensic scientist.
Mr Morgan said: "It was dry when I picked it up. It was cold when I picked it up, and I couldn't feel much through the gloves."
Mr Hughes summarised a defence statement detailing what Haines said had happened.
In it, Haines said they "kissed" before Ms Sullivan confronted him about having a girlfriend and threatened to tell her, unless he gave her money.
Mr Hughes said Haines claimed Ms Sullivan had told him she "would tell the defendant's girlfriend he had raped her".
The court heard Haines said he had grabbed her by the neck, punched her in the face and pushed her.
Haines' statement said Ms Sullivan fell in the water and he jumped in to pull her out but couldn't.
Mr Hughes told the court Lily's mother made numerous attempts to contact and find her daughter.
They last spoke at 02:47 when Anna Sullivan called to find out why she was not at their meeting point.
Ms Sullivan, the court heard, said: "I'm nearly there." Then her phone cut out.
Mr Hughes said Ms Sullivan tried to ring her daughter more than 30 times and became "more distressed" as she looked for her until about 04:00.
"Her worst fears were realised when the police arrived at her home," Mr Hughes added.
The court heard Haines kept apologising to his mother, Sharon Pitman, after telling her what he had done.
Mr Hughes read a police statement from Ms Pitman where she said he told her hours after the killing: "I'm so sorry Mum."
She added Haines had claimed Ms Sullivan had spoken about his daughter and he "went mad".
The court heard her son told her: "I hit her mum, and she went in the pond."
- Published16 May 2022
