In Llanelli, James Smith was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder of Ashley Sarsero, whom he fatally stabbed in the neck with a fishing knife. This event took place when Smith, alongside Steven Morgan, was inside Sarsero’s residence at the time of the deadly altercation. During the trial, it was revealed that Smith claimed self-defense after the stabbing, and chillingly taunted Sarsero as he lay dying. Sarsero’s mother, expressing her profound grief in court, highlighted the deep impact of the event on the victim’s family. The court also took note of Smith’s history of violence when deliberating his sentence. Judge Daniel Williams condemned Smith’s lack of remorse for the act, describing the incident as a “tragedy beyond words”. Morgan, who assisted Smith in fleeing the scene, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence, underscoring the court’s stance on aiding the victim over the perpetrator.

In a separate case, Christine Rawle, a 69-year-old from Devon known for her expertise in horse care, was found guilty of the murder of her husband, Ian Rawle. The conviction came after a trial at Exeter Crown Court where the jury heard that Christine Rawle stabbed her husband in the back during an argument over a piece of land on their property. The prosecution described the act as murder, ensuing from a “fit of temper”, while Rawle’s defense argued that she was a victim of longstanding physical and psychological abuse, which they said explained her actions. Despite the defense’s narrative of self-defense and historical abuse, the jury convicted Rawle of murder. The trial, overseen by Judge James Adkin, brought to light the distressing dynamics of the Rawle’s marriage, drawing comparisons to the characters from Roald Dahl’s ‘The Twits’. The case has highlighted the complexities involved in domestic relationships and the tragic outcomes they can sometimes precipitate. Rawle’s sentencing is awaited, following her conviction.