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This is a free summary of the sentencing hearing of James McKenna, who tried to stab his former to death in a park
James McKenna(Image: WalesOnline)
A man who armed himself with a large kitchen knife and set out to track down and kill his former partner after she ended their relationship has been sentenced.
James McKenna repeatedly stabbed Joanne Sidaway after ambushing her as she walked her dog in park in Carmarthen. He then left her to die in the bushes and went on the run.
McKenna later accepted inflicting grievous bodily harm denied attempted murder – saying he had not intended to kill Miss Sidaway – but was convicted by a jury. During the trial at Swansea Crown Court jurors heard it was only by “pure luck” that Miss Sidaway survived the knife attack, which saw the defendant stab her 11 times.
James McKenna (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
The 58-year-old returned to the dock today to be sentenced. You can read our coverage of the sentencing hearing as it happened on this blog.
Here are the key points from the sentencing hearing:
- On January 29 this year McKenna armed himself with a kitchen knife with a 30cm-long blade and set off for Carmarthen Park, an area where he knew his former partner walked her dog
- The defendant lay in wait for his victim then ambushed her and stabbed her 11 times before running off
- Sentencing judge Paul Thomas KC said the defendant set out to kill his former partner after she ended their relationship. He said the attack was planned and calculated, and was “frenzied but entirely purposeful”
- The court heard the defendant “went off grid” after the attack until he was arrested in Aberystwyth some four days later
- The court heard McKenna has a previous conviction for assaulting another former partner
- McKenna’s barrister told the court her client had expressed remorse for his actions
- McKenna was sentenced to 24 years in prison. He will serve two-thirds of the sentence in custody before being released on licence