Met Police Chief Defends Investigation After Double Murderer's Conviction
The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, has defended the force's investigation into double murderer Simon Levy, who killed two women while on bail. Rowley acknowledged mistakes but disputed claims of insufficient effort, citing a lack of evidence for charges.
Key takeaways
- The Metropolitan Police chief acknowledged mistakes in the investigation of double murderer Simon Levy, who killed two women while on bail.
- Levy received a whole-life sentence for the murders and other sexual assaults.
- The police and CPS have apologized for decisions that allowed Levy to remain free.
- An independent police watchdog is reviewing the management of Levy between 2021 and 2025.
- Critics argue the Met Police does not take all cases of violence against women seriously.
Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan Police, has defended the force's investigation into the actions of Simon Levy, who was on bail when he murdered Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later. Levy was also convicted of violently raping a third woman.
Rowley stated that while mistakes were made in the handling of the case, the assertion that the police did not attempt to build a case for the first murder is inaccurate. He explained that detectives conducted "serious" work but lacked sufficient evidence to secure a charge at that time. The Metropolitan Police did not seek a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service regarding Valencia-Trujillo's murder until after Wilkins was killed.
Both the police and the CPS have apologized for decisions that allowed Levy, a convicted sex offender, to remain free. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining how Levy was managed between his first conviction in September 2021 for sexual assault and his final arrest in September 2025. Levy received a whole-life prison sentence on Wednesday.
Rowley characterized the case as a "whole system failing." He noted that Levy's death was initially considered "suspicious and concerning," but a pathologist could not determine a cause of death, and the force did not have enough evidence for a charge. He asserted that the "combined evidence" only became available after Wilkins' murder, enabling the force to proceed. Rowley also expressed confusion regarding why the Prison Service released Levy after he assaulted a staff member in jail.
Mina Smallman, the mother of two women murdered in 2020, criticized the Metropolitan Police, stating it does not take all cases of violence against women seriously and "decides who matters." She suggested the force is incapable of change due to its size and has expressed concerns about inactivity, corruption, misogyny, and racism.
Key Facts
- Simon Levy, 40, received a whole-life prison sentence for murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins.
- Levy murdered Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Wilkins five months later while on bail.
- Levy was also convicted of sexually assaulting 11 other women between 2023 and 2025.
- The Metropolitan Police did not seek a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service for Valencia-Trujillo's murder until after Wilkins was killed.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct is reviewing how Levy was managed from September 2021 to September 2025.
- Sir Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, acknowledged mistakes but defended the investigation's efforts.
- Mina Smallman, mother of two women murdered in 2020, criticized the Met for not taking all violence against women cases seriously.
Sources reviewed
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