He’ll have to live with this for the rest of his life
Wife speaks of family’s anguish as man cleared of murdering brother
THE wife of Mark Lowe, who will be sentenced this month for killing his brother Wayne, has spoken of the living nightmare of the last few months.
At Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, prosecutors said they had accepted a manslaughter plea and agreed to drop the murder charge.
Sarah Lowe, 33, said: “Mark loved his brother but he wouldn’t have done what he did if he didn’t have to – he just lost control.”
THE wife of Mark Lowe, who will be sentenced this month for killing his brother, has spoken of the devastating impact the past few months have had on her family.
In December, he admitted the manslaughter of Wayne Lowe but denied murdering him.
In a brief hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, prosecutors said they had accepted this plea on the basis of loss of control and agreed to drop the murder charge.
Lowe, 31, of Beechtrees, Skelmersdale, will be sentenced on Monday, February 16.
Wayne Lowe, 33, was found dead at his house in Linaker Street, Southport, on September 7 last year.
It is understood the brothers became engaged in a violent confrontation after drinking alcohol.
Wayne Lowe sustained multiple injuries after allegedly being hit with a chair.
Sarah Lowe, 33, said: “These past few months have been a living nightmare for us all.
“Mark is a good person and he wouldn’t have done this unless he had been provoked.
“He just lost control and now has to live for the rest of his life with what he’s done.
“I’ve been married to Mark for eight years and we have three beautiful children together: Jessica, seven, Jaiden, two and Jocelyn, three.
“Mark is my best friend, when we first got together he helped me through some really difficult times, including the death of both my parents.
“He is a well respected member of the community and a fully trained mental health nurse.
“He worked very hard and every place he worked had nothing bad to say about him. We were looking into moving to Derby- shire and then this happened and our lives were turned upside down overnight.
“Everyone who knows Mark can’t believe this has happened and we are all in shock.”
At the hearing Judge Clement Goldstone said a pre-sentence report would be prepared to assess whether Lowe is considered to be a dangerous offender and if he should be made subject to an extended or life sentence.
Sarah said: “We have prepared the children and told them that daddy might not be coming home for a while, but they have taken it in their stride and are being very strong. It’s still heartbreaking though.
“We got on well with Wayne as a family, he had some problems, but when he was in a good place he was a lovely man and helped us do DIY around the house.
“Mark loved his brother and is devastated by what’s happened but he wouldn’t have done what he did if he didn’t have to.
“It’s so out of character, but Mark just lost control.
“We’re not making any assumptions about what sentence he will get. The scope is vast and it’s just too hard to say.
“We will stand by Mark through it all though, we are a strong family and will come through this together.”
Speaking shortly after Wayne Lowe’s death, his mum and step-father Jillian and Ken Atkins said: “We are completely devastated at the death of our much loved son Wayne.
“Wayne had such a big heart and would do anything for anyone. He was a great father and adored his son, Lewis. His death is a tragedy. We miss him so much already.”
Our lives were turned upside down
SARAH LOWE