Lily Ridgeway: Manslaughter conviction quashed, retrial ordered for stabbing death of Jason Adams

More than two years after a Taree woman was found guilty of the stabbing death of Jason Adams on a street in Port Stephens, a court has made a decision in her appeal. Read the details.

Lily Ridgeway had her conviction quashed over the stabbing death of Jason Adams.

More than two years after Taree woman Lily Ridgeway was found guilty of the stabbing death of Jason Adams on a street in Port Stephens, a court has ordered a retrial and quashed her conviction.

Ridgeway was found guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Adams at Raymond Terrace on February 29, 2020 and sentenced to seven years and seven months imprisonment in May 2022 after her self-defence claim was rejected by the jury in the NSW Supreme Court.
That came after a jury previously acquitted her of murder.

Lily Ridgeway has had her manslaughter conviction quashed and a retrial has been ordered.

Medowie man Jason Adams was stabbed in Raymond Terrace. Picture: Facebook

Ridgeway lodged an appeal against her conviction and severity of her jail term in the Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney which was heard on Friday.

The defence team argued there was a miscarriage of justice due to the failure of the defence counsel to object to evidence that was hearsay.

Mr Rogers told the court it surrounded evidence given from a witness that she told police Ridgeway had said to her “it felt so good”.

He said there was an “oversight” by defence counsel and there was a question of “incompetence” and whether a miscarriage of justice could be proven.

He mentioned there was some obligation on the trial judge to make an inquiry to defence counsel on the hearsay use and a warning but he “didn’t want to criticise the judge”.

After a brief break, justices Stern, Rothman and Yehia gave their decision to uphold the conviction appeal and order a retrial and listed the matter for arraignment next month.

Ridgeway was also granted bail with strict conditions which included reporting three times a week and not go within the townships of Raymond Terrace, Anna Bay, Salamander Bay, Taylors Beach or Bob’s Farm or drink.

She has also been ordered not to drink alcohol or enter any licensed premises, abstain from drugs and not contact any witnesses or family of Adam Jones.