Woman guilty of murdering 61-year-old man

A woman has been found guilty of murdering the man she lived with by stabbing him "in a brutal assault" six times.

Kent Police said Nina Mercer, 43, of Gun Lane, Strood, lived at a flat in Newark Court with Alan Tomkins, 61.

Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Emma Lawry, said Mr Tomkins had allowed Mercer to stay at his flat and is thought to have funded her lifestyle before she "callously repaid him" by attacking him on 23 July, 2024.

Mercer was convicted of murder on Friday following a trial in which she pleaded not guilty.

On the day of the attack, police said Mr Tomkins was at home where he received a food delivery.

It is believed Mercer was in the property at the time and at about 18:00 BST stabbed him multiple times.

Det Ch Insp Lawry said: "The victim had allowed Nina Mercer to stay at his flat and is thought to have funded her lifestyle.

"She callously repaid him in a brutal assault with a knife that ended his life."

After the attack, Mercer did not get medical assistance, "but sought to cover her tracks", Det Ch Insp Lawry said.

Mercer fled and met a man she knew, Lee Robinson, police said.

The pair returned to the murder scene where Robinson stole Mr Tomkins' wallet and bank card.

Mercer then travelled to Cuxton Leisure Park in the victim's car, where it is thought she disposed of her bloodstained clothing.

On 25 July, Kent Police was contacted after an acquaintance of the victim raised concerns that he had not been seen at work or at a planned meeting on the previous day.

Police forced entry via his locked front door and found Mr Tomkins dead in the hallway with a knife protruding from his back.

While officers were at the scene, Mercer walked up to the property and was arrested.

On 26 July, Robinson and two associates visited a shop in Brompton Lane where the victim's bank cards were used to make fraudulent purchases.

Robinson, 45, of Frindsbury Road, Strood denied assisting an offender but admitted theft and fraud.

He was found not guilty of assisting an offender, but was convicted of theft and fraud.

Det Ch Insp Lawry, said: "The victim had allowed Nina Mercer to stay at his flat and is thought to have funded her lifestyle. She callously repaid him in a brutal assault with a knife that ended his life."

She said she hoped the conviction would give the victim's relatives and friends "the opportunity to find some closure".

Mercer and Robinson will be sentenced on Tuesday.

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