Man Jailed for 24 Years After Stabbing Ex-Partner in Carmarthen Park

According to BBC UK, James McKenna, 58, received a 24-year sentence after repeatedly stabbing his ex-partner, Joanne Sidaway, 49, in the chest and subsequently fleeing, which initiated a four-day search. The incident occurred in the bushes of Carmarthen Park in January. McKenna later hid in a wood near Carmarthen for three days without sustenance before being apprehended in a hospital while receiving treatment for frostbite. Earlier this year, McKenna had pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, but in July, he was found guilty of attempted murder.

On Friday, Judge Paul Thomas KC stated that the assault was "wholly calculated," noting that McKenna had left Sidaway to perish in the bushes. The evidence presented at Swansea Crown Court showed that McKenna had waited for Sidaway to enter the park on January 29 with her dog before positioning himself in the bushes to initiate the assault. A jury heard that McKenna felt "angry" following the conclusion of their relationship several months prior, and that it was fortunate Sidaway survived, attributing her survival to her winter coat.

During the trial, McKenna informed the jury that he had placed the sharpest knife from his kitchen into his bag that morning with the intent of harming Sidaway. He claimed his objective was to inflict "serious harm" on Sidaway but not to kill her. He stated, "I felt she was reluctant to re-engage with me, and not even say hello." As Sidaway approached, he stabbed her multiple times, which he admitted was done in what he described as "a rage of anger." He told the court he was "shocked" by his actions, adding, "I was aiming for her shoulder area and the upper body. I didn't want to kill her."

Neighbor Susan Edwards testified during the July trial that she heard "high-pitched screaming" and the "bushes shaking" before a man ran away. Sidaway contacted emergency services, stating, "I've been stabbed by my ex-partner... he's been stalking me."

McKenna fled the location after the attack and stated he discarded his rucksack, which contained the knife, at an allotment near the park after consuming a yoghurt there. He then walked towards Bronwydd, a village approximately three miles (4km) north of Carmarthen, along the River Gwili. He told the court, "I found some shelter, a quiet woodland away from the road," and added, "I was devastated and kept having flashbacks."

He remained in that location for three nights before traveling to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, using a taxi and bus. Police bodycam footage was shown to the jury depicting Sidaway sitting on her doorstep with paramedics, covered in blood. The jury heard that there were 17 areas of damage to Sidaway's coat, and they were shown images of her clothing, which was "extensively blood-stained," as well as injuries to her chest, arm, and hand. Sidaway declined to provide a victim personal statement.

In sentencing, Thomas stated that McKenna had been in a relationship with a woman whose vulnerabilities he should have been fully aware of. He asserted that when Sidaway decided, as was her right, that she no longer wished to be in the relationship, McKenna responded with violence, which he had done previously, in an immature manner. The judge noted that McKenna had stalked her in the Carmarthen park that morning and then returned in the afternoon with the same intent, characterizing it as planned and wholly calculated. The judge further stated that McKenna stabbed her no fewer than 11 times, three of which were to the chest and heart area. The judge commented that Sidaway survived only because of the cold weather and the five layers she wore under a thick coat, but emphasized that he left her to die in the bushes after the attack. He concluded that McKenna only surrendered after developing frostbite from sleeping rough.

The court also heard that McKenna had been convicted of assault against an ex-partner in August 2016 for pushing her neck and pulling her hair. Prosecution barrister James Wilson argued that this prior conviction demonstrated his unwillingness to accept the end of the relationship. Caroline Rees KC, representing the defense, mentioned that the most favorable point of mitigation was the remorse McKenna had shown since the incident, referencing a letter where he expressed sorrow and regret. Lucy Mansfield of the Crown Prosecution Service commented that McKenna's actions were cold and calculated, as he deliberately brought a knife to a public area to attack his ex-partner, describing it as a shocking act of violence that must have been terrifying for the victim. She added that the prosecution would continue to collaborate with criminal justice partners to address such abhorrent offenses.

Welsh Women's Aid Chief Executive Sara Kirkpatrick characterized the attack as a "carefully planned" assault. She noted that post-separation abuse, stalking, and following a domestically abusive relationship are unfortunately common. She observed that while efforts can be made to improve safety in public spaces, this was an intentional act by an individual who planned and chose a location where his victim would be. She stated that the charity campaigns for social change so that individuals do not believe pursuing vengeance in this manner is an acceptable course of action. Swansea Crown Court determined that McKenna would serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being released on licence.