Easterton stabbing: three sentenced over Bristol man’s 2024 death in Wiltshire 2026

Key Points

• Three people are due to be sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on 2 July 2026 over the death of Raymond Groves, 48, from Hartcliffe, Bristol.
• Helen Shakespeare, 53, of Strawberry Fields, Easterton, was found guilty of manslaughter in May 2026 after an 11-week trial.
• Anthony Hodges-Hillier, 33, of Brooklands, Royal Wootton Bassett, was convicted of murder.
• Letishia Goodwin, 29, also of Strawberry Fields, Easterton, was found guilty of participating in the murder, though she was absent from trial as she was unfit to stand trial.
• The fatal stabbing occurred on 2 July 2024 in Easterton, Wiltshire, after Groves visited Goodwin’s address seeking Shakespeare, with whom he had a previous relationship.
• Wiltshire Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team described the attack as “brutal and sustained”.
• Detective Chief Inspector Deb Hatch paid tribute to officers and to Groves’s family, who showed “remarkable strength” during the investigation and trial process.

Bristol (Bristol Express News) July 2, 2026 – Three individuals are due to be sentenced today, 2 July 2026, at Salisbury Crown Court following the death of Raymond Groves, 48, from Hartcliffe, Bristol, who was stabbed in Easterton on 2 July 2024. Helen Shakespeare, 53, from Strawberry Fields, Easterton, was found guilty of manslaughter; Anthony Hodges-Hillier, 33, from Brooklands, Royal Wootton Bassett, was convicted of murder; and Letishia Goodwin, 29, also of Strawberry Fields, Easterton, was found guilty of participating in the murder, according to court outcomes reported in May 2026 after an 11-week trial. Police have characterised the attack as “brutal and sustained”, and the sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place at Salisbury Crown Court today.

Who were the people convicted and what were the verdicts?

Helen Shakespeare, 53, of Strawberry Fields, Easterton, was found guilty of manslaughter, while Anthony Hodges-Hillier, 33, of Brooklands, Royal Wootton Bassett, was convicted of murder, following an 11-week trial that concluded in May 2026 at Salisbury Crown Court. Letishia Goodwin, 29, also of Strawberry Fields, Easterton, was found guilty of participating in the murder, though she was absent from the trial proceedings as she was deemed unfit to stand trial, the court record shows. All three are due to hear their sentences at Salisbury Crown Court on 2 July 2026, the second anniversary of the fatal incident.

How did the incident on 2 July 2024 unfold?

On 2 July 2024, Raymond Groves visited Letishia Goodwin’s address in Easterton, seeking Helen Shakespeare, with whom he shared a previous relationship, according to police accounts of the incident. Goodwin was out at the time, but her mother, Shakespeare, was at home, and following an altercation Groves was stabbed multiple times, police said. Emergency services attended the scene, but Groves was pronounced dead at the location, the investigation summary states.

What did Wiltshire Police say about the case?

The investigation into Groves’s death was conducted by Wiltshire Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, which oversaw the inquiry leading to the charges and subsequent trial. Speaking at the time of the verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Deb Hatch said: “Raymond’s death was the result of a brutal and sustained attack, and today’s verdicts reflect the gravity of the actions taken by those responsible.” Hatch added: “I want to pay tribute to the dedication of every officer and staff member involved, and to Raymond’s family, who have shown remarkable strength throughout an incredibly difficult process.”

Where will the sentencing take place and when?

The sentencing is scheduled to take place at Salisbury Crown Court today, 2 July 2026, with all three convicted individuals due to appear to hear their sentences, court listings indicate. The trial itself was held at Salisbury Crown Court, although Goodwin was absent during proceedings due to being unfit to stand trial, the court record notes.

Who was Raymond Groves and where was he from?

Raymond Groves, 48, was from Hartcliffe, Bristol, and died after being stabbed on 2 July 2024 in Easterton, Wiltshire, according to police and court documentation. He had visited Goodwin’s address in Easterton on the day of the incident, seeking Shakespeare, with whom he shared a previous relationship, the investigation summary states.

What were the charges and how were they determined?

Helen Shakespeare was found guilty of manslaughter, Anthony Hodges-Hillier was convicted of murder, and Letishia Goodwin was found guilty of participating in the murder, following an 11-week trial that concluded in May 2026. The trial took place at Salisbury Crown Court, with Goodwin absent from proceedings as she was deemed unfit to stand trial, the court record shows. Police described the attack as “brutal and sustained”, and the verdicts were delivered after the jury considered the evidence over the course of the trial.

What has been the response from investigators?

Detective Chief Inspector Deb Hatch, speaking at the time of the verdicts, said: “Raymond’s death was the result of a brutal and sustained attack, and today’s verdicts reflect the gravity of the actions taken by those responsible.” Hatch added: “I want to pay tribute to the dedication of every officer and staff member involved, and to Raymond’s family, who have shown remarkable strength throughout an incredibly difficult process.” The investigation was led by Wiltshire Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, which handled the inquiry from the scene through to the trial outcomes.

What are the next steps in the case?

The next step is the sentencing hearing at Salisbury Crown Court on 2 July 2026, where Shakespeare, Hodges-Hillier and Goodwin are due to hear their sentences. The court will determine the appropriate sentences based on the convictions for manslaughter, murder and participation in murder, following the trial outcomes in May 2026.

Background of the particular development

The fatal stabbing in Easterton on 2 July 2024 prompted a major investigation by Wiltshire Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, which led to charges against three individuals and an 11-week trial at Salisbury Crown Court. The trial concluded in May 2026 with verdicts of manslaughter, murder and participation in murder, and the sentencing is scheduled for 2 July 2026, the second anniversary of the incident. The case has drawn attention due to the nature of the attack, described by police as “brutal and sustained”, and the involvement of multiple defendants in a domestic-related confrontation that escalated to fatal violence. Goodwin’s absence from the trial due to being unfit to stand trial added a procedural dimension to the case, while the convictions of Shakespeare and Hodges-Hillier proceeded following the jury’s consideration of the evidence.

Prediction: How this development can affect the local community and families involved

The sentencing is likely to bring a measure of closure for Raymond Groves’s family, who have been described by investigators as showing “remarkable strength” throughout the investigation and trial process. For the local community in Easterton and surrounding areas, the outcome may reinforce awareness of the consequences of violent confrontations and the seriousness with whichthe courts treat such cases, potentially influencing public perceptions of safety and justice in the region. Families of those convicted may also face significant emotional and practical impacts as sentences are handed down, while the broader community may see increased attention on domestic-related incidents and the importance of early intervention and support services.