A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison for fatally stabbing his former partner during a court proceeding. Paul Gary Turner, 43, was convicted of murdering Sarah Thomas, the mother of his two children, in a violent attack that took place at a mediation hearing in December 2016.
The tragic incident occurred while Turner and Thomas were in a legal dispute over the custody of their young children. Turner unexpectedly brandished a kitchen knife, hidden in a lever arch file, and proceeded to stab Thomas multiple times, resulting in her death, including a fatal wound to her carotid artery.
During the trial, it was revealed that Turner deliberately chose a public setting to commit the heinous act to make a statement. The shocking event unfolded at the Joondalup courthouse in Perth, Australia, where Turner attacked Thomas in the presence of a court officer.
Turner, who had previous training in combat knife techniques, claimed memory loss of the incident during the trial, attributing it to dissociative seizures from a head injury. Despite his defense, the jury found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years.
In a separate incident, Michael James, 45, was convicted of manslaughter for fatally stabbing Bradley Hollis, 35, during a confrontation at his residence. The altercation arose from jealousy over James’ ex-girlfriend’s new relationship with Hollis. James was also found guilty of assault against his ex-partner and possessing a bladed weapon in a public place, leading to a 14-year prison sentence.
