Tracie Andrews

Case identification

Tracie Marguerite Andrews (born 1969) was an English woman who murdered her fiancé, Lee Raymond Harvey (born 20 September 1971), on 1 December 1996.

Background

Andrews was a former model and barmaid.

Andrews underwent a submandibular osteotomy operation in November 2009 to correct a class III occlusion, correcting her bottom jaw from protruding over her top jaw. The operation was paid for by the NHS and caused controversy.

The offence

Andrews stabbed Harvey more than 30 times and more than 42 times with a pen knife after they had stopped in his car following an argument on the way to their flat in The Becks, Alvechurch, Worcester.

At a press conference on 3 December 1996, Andrews claimed that Harvey had been the victim of a road rage attack from a man with "staring eyes." Another account described her claiming that a "fat man with staring eyes" had stabbed Harvey over 30 times.

A separate account described Andrews leaving Harvey to bleed to death after she cut his throat and stabbed him 37 times, including in the back, face, neck and chest.

Investigation

A West Midlands Police inquiry failed to find witnesses to the incident.

Arrest

Andrews was arrested on the morning of Saturday 7 December in Hospital. She was released on Bail after being charged.

Trial

Andrews continued into the court holding her road-rage defence.

Andrews was found guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court in July 1997 for the murder of Lee Harvey on 1 December 1996.

In October 1998, Andrews lost her appeal. Three judges in London announced their decision on Tracie Andrews, 29, who denied stabbing lover Lee Harvey more than 30 times. She had been found guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court in July 1997.

In the appeal hearing, Lord Justice Roch said:

"We do not consider that this jury was prevented from reaching a proper verdict by the reporting in the media of this case on either of the issues this jury had to decided, namely whether they were sure it was the appellant who had killed Lee Harvey and secondly whether they were sure that the possibility of this being a case of manslaughter by reason of provocation had been excluded by the Crown.
We have already indicated the strength of the prosecution's case against the appellant and the conclusion we have reached is that there is nothing unsafe in her conviction."

The appeal argument included damaging publicity and risk to fair trial. The former model and barmaid was found beside Mr Harvey's body on 1 December 1996 after they stopped during a row as they drove towards their flat in The Becks, Alvechurch.

The prosecution’s case was that Andrews attacked Harvey with an imitation Swiss Army knife before concocting a story about her fiancé being the victim of a road-rage attack by a "fat man with staring eyes." It was alleged that Harvey, 25, was left dead in the road clutching strands of his lover's hair as she fled the murder scene at Coopers Hill, Alvechurch, with the knife she had used to attack him tucked in her stiletto boot.

Michelle, Harvey’s sister, said:

"I just want the bitch to rot in hell."

Maureen, Harvey’s mother, said:

"I still believe that life should mean life. I am happy with the result. Justice has been done."

Ray Harvey said:

" We now want to draw a line under Tracie Andrews and start to rebuild our lives." and: "She should stay where she is as far as we are concerned. The past two years have been an enormous burden for our family."

It was also stated that Tracie Andrews’ mother, Irene, was helped sobbing from the court after the hearing, and both she and Andrews’ natural father, John, refused to speak to the media.

Sentencing

On July 29, 1997, Andrews was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that she serve at least 14 years.

At the time of sentencing, the judge’s recommendation would have kept her behind bars until at least 2011 and the age of 42.

Appeals

Andrews lodged a subsequent appeal alleging she was the victim of a miscarriage of justice because of damaging publicity surrounding her case; the appeal was thrown out at a hearing in October 1998.

Outcome

Andrews was released in January 2012.

During her imprisonment, it was stated that she saved the life of a fellow prisoner who attempted suicide, sparking fears that she could be out sooner than the trial judge had recommended.

The Home Secretary later ordered that Andrews should serve no less than the 14 years that had been recommended by her trial judge.

It was stated that Andrews admitted in April 1999 that she had carried out the crime and that she had admitted again to murdering Harvey while an inmate of the therapeutic wing.

Aftermath and later life

Andrews was refused official anonymity and changed her name to Tia Carter. A separate account said she had started a new life under the name Tia Carter and was banned from travelling within 25 miles of her victim’s family without supervision.

She was moved from Foston Hall jail in Derbyshire to Send prison near Woking, Surrey, and was later said to be housed at Askham Grange open prison near York for the last part of her 14-year term.

It was reported that she had admitted again to murdering Harvey, and a prison source said:

"Andrews has moved to this prison and admitted to the murder, which has surprised a lot of people. Although she has accepted her guilt, nobody really believes that she feels much remorse. She sees this as her first step on the way to parole. Andrews is manipulative and devious. Officers believe she will say or do anything to get out of jail."

Harvey’s parents, Roy and Maureen, traveled to 10 Downing Street as part of a delegation of families involved in high-profile murder cases.

Maureen Harvey wrote a book titled Pure Evil: How Tracie Andrews Murdered My Son, Deceived the Nation and Sentenced Me to a Life of Pain and Misery.

In March 2010, BBC Radio 4’s afternoon play was a docu-drama of the case, consisting of a dramatisation of the events along with interviews with some of those involved including police and friends of Tracie Andrews and Lee Harvey.

The case was also featured on Snapped, a show on the Oxygen network that documents cases of crime by women, usually against lovers or husbands.

Other details

Andrews was described as living with her fiancé in Alvechurch, Worcestershire.

Andrews was said to have claimed at the press conference that a "fat man with staring eyes" had stabbed Harvey over 30 times.

A separate account described Andrews losing her appeal and included additional statements about jury trial issues and pre-trial and on-going publicity.

Andrews’ daughter, Karla (also referred to as Karla Marie Tilston), was described as living near Birmingham, and Harvey’s daughter, Danielle, was described as having established Facebook contact with Andrews’ daughter Karla.

Maureen said:

"I was told there was a possibility, after her release, that she might be able to visit her daughter, provided she followed a set route. That, to me, would be totally unacceptable. It would be devastating for me if I ever saw Tracie again."

Maureen also said:

"Victims’ families should be treated with more respect. What we need is a change in the law to allow us more information. I don’t want revenge, I just want to make sure I never set eyes on Tracie Andrews again. All this worry will send me to an early grave."

Karla spoke briefly and said:

‘If people knew her like I know her, then you would see she is not the psycho killer that she is made out to be.’

Maureen said:

"Sometimes, when I look at Lee’s picture I want to shout: “Why did you fall in love with Tracie?” Because if he hadn’t, Lee would still be alive," and: "But you can’t choose who you love."

Maureen said:

"Once, he came home with a bite on his neck. She’d flown into a rage seeing him talk to a barmaid in a club and attacked him." and: "I remember Tracie saying to me: “I know, we just can’t live with each other and can’t live without each other either.” I don’t know why Lee kept going back to her."

Maureen said:

"The closest Tracie Andrews ever came to apologising to Maureen was from her hospital bed after she had taken an overdose — before her arrest — when she said: ‘I’m sorry for what I have done.’"

Maureen said:

"I didn’t know if she was apologising for the overdose or for killing Lee. I think now it was the latter, but at the time I really wanted to believe she was innocent."

Maureen said:

"When the police came to tell me she’d been arrested on suspicion of murder, I collapsed shouting “No, no, no”. I didn’t want to believe it."

Maureen said:

"You think the tears will stop with time, but they don’t." and: "I could lie to you and say I don’t hate her, but I can’t lie to myself and God about what’s in my heart. I can never forgive her."

Lyn Costello, who ran the support group Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, said:

"In terms of the law, she is right about her human rights. But in terms of morals and decency, she’s wrong. This must be terrible for the family."