James McKenna admits carrying out a planned knife attack on Joanne Sidaway but denies intending to kill her

THE JURY has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a Carmarthen man accused of attempting to murder his former partner during a knife attack in Carmarthen Park.

James John McKenna, aged 57, of Bro Hedydd, Carmarthen, admits attacking Joanne Sidaway with a kitchen knife on January 29 this year.

He has pleaded guilty to wounding Ms Sidaway with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a bladed article in a public place, but denies attempted murder.

The central question for the jury is not whether McKenna carried out the attack, which he accepts, but whether he intended to kill Ms Sidaway or intended to cause her really serious injury and no more.

The case has been heard at Swansea Crown Court before Judge Paul Thomas KC. James Wilson prosecuted, while Caroline Rees KC represented McKenna.

The relationship

The jury heard that McKenna and Ms Sidaway first met online through a photography group in 2022 and began a relationship in September 2024.

McKenna said the relationship initially went well but ended in September 2025. The pair continued to see each other intermittently until Ms Sidaway brought the relationship to a final end in November.

Giving evidence in his defence, McKenna said he struggled to accept the relationship was over and described himself as distressed, sad and angry.

He claimed his mental health had deteriorated following the break-up, although the prosecution pointed out that no medical evidence had been presented to the court in support of that account.

McKenna said he saw Ms Sidaway about a week and a half before the attack, but she showed little interest in speaking to him. He told the jury that he lost his composure and became upset and angry.

Looking for Ms Sidaway

On January 29, McKenna placed a large kitchen knife inside a rucksack and went to places where he believed Ms Sidaway might be found.

He admitted visiting Carmarthen Park in the morning because he knew she regularly walked her dog there.

Asked by Judge Thomas why he had gone to the park, McKenna replied: “I was looking for her, your honour.”

He was carrying the concealed knife at the time and admitted that he had taken it because he wanted to cause Ms Sidaway really serious harm.

McKenna said no attack took place that morning because other people were present.

He later travelled to the museum in Abergwili, believing Ms Sidaway might be there, before returning to Carmarthen town centre and visiting Time Coffee Bar, which was close to a shop where she volunteered.

The prosecution said these movements demonstrated that McKenna had deliberately spent the day looking for his former partner.

CCTV evidence shown to the jury traced McKenna’s movements around Carmarthen and showed him returning to the park during the afternoon.

The court heard that he spent time close to the Picton Terrace entrance before seeing Ms Sidaway approaching with her dog.

The attack

McKenna admitted checking that the park was quiet and hiding in a hedge near the entrance.

He told the court that he crouched down to conceal himself and could hear Ms Sidaway speaking to her dog as she approached.

McKenna then emerged from the hedge and attacked her with the knife.

He estimated that the incident lasted between ten and 15 seconds and said he delivered around six or seven blows.

Ms Sidaway suffered injuries to her chest, upper arm and hands. The jury was shown photographs of four wounds around the chest area and cuts to her hands which forensic physician Professor Jason James-Payne described as consistent with defensive injuries.

Professor James-Payne said a single stab wound could be fatal if it penetrated the chest cavity or damaged the heart or lungs. He said whether such an injury proved fatal could be a matter of chance.

The jury also heard that Ms Sidaway’s coat contained marks consistent with nine stabbing actions and two slashes.

A woman walking her dog nearby heard screaming and saw a man running away from the bushes before finding Ms Sidaway bleeding.

During a 999 call, Ms Sidaway identified McKenna as her attacker and repeatedly asked for an ambulance. She said the attack had happened so quickly that she had been unable to use a whistle she was carrying.

Knife recovered from allotment shed

After the attack, McKenna ran from the park towards the Five Fields Allotments.

Police later recovered his rucksack from an open allotment shed. Inside was a bloodstained kitchen knife wrapped in a calendar.

The court heard that Ms Sidaway’s blood was found on the knife and McKenna’s fingerprint was found on its handle.

A photograph of McKenna and Ms Sidaway was also found inside the rucksack.

McKenna did not contact the emergency services or check on Ms Sidaway following the attack.

He remained in the Bronwydd area for several days before travelling by taxi and bus to Aberystwyth.

He was arrested on February 2 after attending Bronglais Hospital suffering from frostbite. McKenna said he knew he would be arrested when he entered the hospital and regretted not handing himself in sooner.

The prosecution case

In his closing speech, Mr Wilson told the jury that McKenna’s actions had been “planned, calculated and deliberate”.

The prosecution argued that McKenna’s anger about the end of the relationship had been building for some time and that he had chosen a large, sharp knife before deliberately searching for Ms Sidaway.

Mr Wilson said McKenna knew her routine, checked that the park was quiet, concealed himself in a hedge and waited until she was close before ambushing her.

He asked jurors to consider the number of blows, the parts of the body targeted and the potentially fatal consequences of repeatedly using a kitchen knife against an unarmed woman.

The prosecution argued that if McKenna had only intended to injure Ms Sidaway, there were numerous ways he could have done so without repeatedly stabbing towards her upper body.

Mr Wilson also highlighted McKenna’s decision to run away without seeking help, arguing that Ms Sidaway could have been left bleeding to death in the park.

He told the jury that the only reason she had survived was “pure luck”.

The defence case

Ms Rees accepted on McKenna’s behalf that the attack had been planned and that he had intended to cause Ms Sidaway really serious harm.

However, she argued that planning an attack did not necessarily prove that McKenna had planned to kill.

McKenna told the jury that he had been in a rage and had aimed generally towards Ms Sidaway’s upper body without looking directly at where the knife was landing.

He denied aiming for her heart, lungs, throat or other vital organs and said he had never wanted her to die.

The defence said there had been no previous threat by McKenna to kill Ms Sidaway and argued that he had the opportunity to kill her but did not do so.

Ms Rees also asked jurors to consider that the blows were delivered through Ms Sidaway’s clothing and that the medical evidence described the force used as at least moderate, rather than the highest level of force.

She said McKenna had admitted behaving in an appalling and seriously criminal way, but warned that this did not automatically make him guilty of attempted murder.

The defence argued that the evidence was at least equally consistent with an intention to cause grievous bodily harm, the offence to which McKenna has already pleaded guilty.

Ms Rees said the prosecution had to make the jury sure that McKenna intended to kill and that, if they were not sure, their verdict on attempted murder must be not guilty.

The issue for the jury

Summing up the case, Judge Thomas reminded jurors that the prosecution carries the burden of proving guilt and that McKenna does not have to prove anything.

He said it was accepted that McKenna took a large kitchen knife to Carmarthen Park and repeatedly used it against his former partner.

The issue was why he had done so.

The jury must decide whether McKenna intended to cause really serious harm but no more, or whether he intended to kill Ms Sidaway.

The jury has now retired to consider its verdict.

THE GERMAN cruise ship AIDAsol returned to Fishguard today, bringing hundreds of passengers to north Pembrokeshire.

The large vessel was clearly visible from homes overlooking Fishguard Bay after arriving for what is understood to be her second visit to the town.

Passengers were expected to travel ashore by tender before exploring Fishguard, Goodwick and tourist destinations across Pembrokeshire.

Cruise ship visits provide a welcome boost for local shops, cafés, transport providers and visitor attractions, with organised excursions often taking passengers to locations including St Davids and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

AIDAsol is operated by German cruise company AIDA Cruises and is instantly recognisable because of the distinctive eye and red lips painted across her bow.

The ship measures more than 250 metres in length and can accommodate more than 2,000 passengers, as well as hundreds of crew members.

Her arrival attracted attention from residents, with the impressive vessel photographed from several vantage points around Fishguard and Goodwick.

The visit comes during the busy summer tourism season and offers businesses another opportunity to showcase the area to overseas visitors.

AIDAsol was due to remain off the coast while passengers enjoyed their time in Pembrokeshire before continuing to the next destination on her itinerary.

Impressive arrival: AIDAsol pictured in Fishguard Bay today (Pic: Herald reader)

Ysgol Caer Elen could receive more than £1,000 to help pupils perform as Pembrokeshire hosts Wales’ biggest cultural festival

PUPILS from Ysgol Caer Elen are preparing to perform on one of Wales’ biggest cultural stages after Haverfordwest Town Council backed financial support for their visit to this summer’s National Eisteddfod.

The council’s Personnel, Policy and Finance Committee has recommended awarding the Haverfordwest school £1,065 towards transport and participation costs.

The National Eisteddfod, known this year as Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, will be held at Llantood, near Crymych, from August 1 to 8.

Councillors said the event would provide pupils with an exceptional opportunity to perform at a major national festival while it is being hosted in their home county.

Members also praised the school’s enthusiasm and its efforts to support local fundraising, including a concert and disco held on behalf of the Haverfordwest Eisteddfod Appeals Committee.

The proposed grant was considered to support several of the town council’s priorities, including the promotion of the Welsh language, culture and the arts, as well as creating educational opportunities for young people.

Ysgol Caer Elen provides Welsh-medium education for pupils aged from three to 16 and has played a significant role in the growth of Welsh-language education in Pembrokeshire.

This year’s festival also carries added historical significance, marking 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod was held at Cardigan Castle in 1176.

Councillors said the chance for local pupils to participate in such an important event was unlikely to come around again in the foreseeable future.

However, the committee stressed that its recommendation had been made because of the exceptional circumstances surrounding the Eisteddfod’s return to Pembrokeshire.

Members said the award should not be treated as setting a precedent for future applications, which will continue to be considered under the council’s usual grant criteria.

The recommendation must now be approved by the full town council before the funding is formally awarded.

Thousands of visitors are expected to travel to Pembrokeshire during the week-long festival, which will feature music, literature, theatre, visual arts, competitions and activities for families.

The National Eisteddfod is regarded as Europe’s largest travelling festival celebrating the Welsh language and culture.