Lodger killed landlady in ‘too many baths’ row

A lodger was found guilty of killing his landlady by pushing her down stairs in a row over him using too much hot water. Jesse Harper hit out at Joanna Doman as she confronted him over his “expensive habit” of having two baths a day, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Mrs Doman, 55, had told friends she was scared of Harper and wanted him to leave her two-bedroom cottage in Peasedown St John, near Bath. Harper, 22, pushed her down a steep staircase and she died of her injuries at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

He had denied manslaughter, claiming self-defence, but was convicted yesterday and will be sentenced on a date to be confirmed.