News

Murder victim was stabbed 40 times

Published

10 years ago

January 23, 2014

A TENBY woman allegedly murdered will blame her boyfriend from beyond the grave, a jury heard on Wednesday.

Joanna Elizabeth Hall, aged 30, survived for 19 days after she was stabbed 40 times at her home in Cresswell Street in the centre of the town.

Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting at Swansea crown court, said Miss Hall was conscious enough to tell medics and relatives she had been attacked by Steven Daniel Williams, also 30.

She was even well enough, for a while, to make a formal police statement repeating the allegation. The jury at Swansea crown court has also heard how armed police had to threaten Williams after responding to a 999 call. Williams has denied stabbing Miss Hall 40 times and then allegedly waiting all night before calling for help. By then it was too late and Miss Hall died on April 4, 2013, 19 days after being attacked.

The jury heard today what happened when Williams, of Newell Hill, 25 Marsh Road, Tenby, finally dialled 999.

He told the emergency operator “It must have happened a couple of hours ago.”

When police arrived they noticed Williams was standing in the road outside Miss Hall’s home and did not call them over and show them where to go.

Armed police approached him and noticed he was bleeding from a wound to his left ear.

“He was incoherent and unhelpful,” added Miss Evans. “He became agitated. Officers restrained him and put the red dot of a taser on him.”

Williams told police initially that he had gone out “for five minutes to get some fags.”

When he returned Miss Hall had been stabbed “and her intestines were hanging out.”

Williams was arrested and taken to Haverfordwest police station. During the journey he was volatile, “smiling one moment, angry the next.”

On his arrest for attempted murder, Williams told police they could “**** shove it up your arses.”

He also said, “My solicitor will sort it out and the arresting officers will be out of a job.”

Miss Evans said back at Cresswell Street the armed officers found Miss Hall lying in the lounge wrapped in a blood soaked duvet taken from a bedroom.

She was flown by air ambulance to Swansea’s Morriston Hospital. In the helicopter a medic asked her if her “fellow” had stabbed her and she replied, yes. Miss Hall said she had been stabbed while lying on the floor. Williams had apologised but then stabbed her again.

Meanwhile, at Haverfordwest police station, officers asked Williams about the injury to his ear. He said he had injured himself skateboarding two days earlier.

“He was lying. There was fresh blood in the sink (at Miss Hall’s flat). The injuries were inflicted by Joanna while she was able to try to defend herself,” added Miss Evans.

Earlier, the jury was told Williams may have sat alongside his fatally injured victim “all night” before dialling 999.

Williams, said Miss Evans, was to claim to police that a stranger must have entered Miss Hall’s two bedroom flat while he was out for 10 minutes buying cigarettes. But, Miss Evans told the jury, CCTV cameras showed that no-one entered the street during that time.

In her opening address, Miss Evans said of the living only Williams, known as Sparrow, knew what happened inside Miss Hall’s flat on March 16, “and he isn’t saying.”

But before Miss Hall died she gave accounts to several people and even made a witness statement. She told her sister, Georgina Marwick, from her death bed at Swansea’s Morriston hospital, that Williams had turned up at her flat “drunk on whisky.”

According to Mrs Marwick, Miss Hall told her, “He flipped. He tried to rip a radiator off the wall. He stabbed me. I asked him to ring for help and he said ‘no’

“He said I would have to take my own life or he would do it for me.

“If I told anyone he would come back and finish me off

“He said he did not want to kill me but he did not want to go back into prison. He sat with me all night.

“He said, ‘will you just die.’ In the morning he went to a shop and told me not to run off.”

Williams is also alleged to have said to Miss Hall, “Aren’t you dead yet?”

In a witness statement to police, Miss Hall said Williams walked from the kitchen to the lounge holding a knife. She asked him what he was going to do with it and he replied, “Watch me.”

Miss Evans said although Williams would not say what happened the prosecution had been able to build a clear picture by putting together footage from the “surprisingly” high number of CCTV cameras in Tenby town centre and mobile telephone traffic.

At 5.20pm on March 15 Williams was at Tenby Cottage Hospital telling a nurse he thought he had “caught” something from having sex with a girl. The nurse could not diagnose him there and then and advised him to contact Care on Call.

That service tried to contact Williams at 8.50pm via Miss Hall’s Iphone but by then Williams had left her flat.

There followed a string of text messages from Miss Hall to Williams.

One read, “Cheers Steve. You just love breaking my heart don’t you, eh?”At 8.43pm she wrote, “Can’t believe I let myself fall for you.”

Two minutes later she wrote: “Don’t know why you keep coming back here. You have made it quite clear that you don’t want to be here.”At 9.01pm Williams was filmed buy a bottle of whisky at the Fiveways Garage. A police officer who knew him thought he was already drunk.

At 9.06pm Miss Hall telephoned a friend, Sean Dodd, and told him she had argued with Williams after he claimed to have “caught something” from her.

At 9.24pm, Miss Hall wrote to Williams saying: “You love making me cry, don’t you.”

In her last text message, sent at 11.15pm, Miss Hall told Williams there was something she needed to tell him and asked him to call around the next day.

“But he went back that night,” said Miss Evans.

Gabriel Roberts, who lived in the flat below Miss Hall’s, arrived home about 1.30am. She told police a man and a woman upstairs were arguing so loudly she put in earplugs to help her get to sleep.

By 3.07am Williams was using Miss Hall’s telephone to call a friend, Stephen Camp, and, said Miss Evans, it seemed the attack followed soon afterwards. Williams made repeated attempts to contact Mr Camp, but he was asleep. He finally got through at 7.24am and asked him to come to Cresswell Street. Mr Camp arrived at 8.05am. He saw Miss Hall on the floor and heard her whisper, “help me.”

Mr Camp said he panicked and told Williams to call the police. He was filmed leaving the flat at 8.09am

“So does he call 999?” asked Miss Evans. “No.”

But 10 minutes later he did make the call.

Business

Women make better homeworkers than men, according to new survey

Published

28 mins ago

April 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A GROUNDBREAKING survey conducted by the team behind the British Business Excellence Awards (www.britishbusinessexcellenceawards.co.uk) have uncovered a significant trend in the remote work landscape: women are leading the charge as successful remote workers, surpassing men in both productivity and overall satisfaction with remote work arrangements.

The survey, encompassing more than 2,300 UK adults in full-time employment (a 50/50 split of men and women), revealed a striking trend: over two thirds of employees (69%) perceive female remote workers as more productive than their male counterparts. Contrary to traditional assumptions, women are not only adapting to remote work, but thriving in it.

Additionally, over three-quarters of women (76%) reported increased productivity since transitioning to remote work, compared to 54% of men. This shift in productivity is closely tied to work-life balance, with 72% of women indicating an improved balance since working remotely, compared to 58% of men.

Female remote workers also stood out in terms of approachability and support, with a staggering three-quarters of respondents (75%) perceiving female colleagues as more approachable in the virtual workspace. This accessibility and support contribute to a more cohesive and connected remote work environment.

In a reflection of the evolving priorities in the business world, over half of men (54%) and three-fifths of women (61%) believe that female remote workers are more progressive when it comes to sustainability and environmental initiatives. Women in remote roles were perceived as having a stronger focus on implementing sustainable practices and promoting eco-consciousness in their virtual teams.

Conversely, the survey highlighted a perception that male remote workers are more comfortable with embracing technology and artificial intelligence (AI), with 78% of men and 61% of women expressing this view. This suggests that male remote workers are seen as driving digital transformation and leveraging tech tools more readily in the virtual workspace.

Sarah Austin, Director of the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards, commented:

“These findings challenge traditional norms and underline the importance of fostering an inclusive work environment where all employees, especially women, can thrive. The data clearly shows that women bring unique strengths to remote work, contributing to higher productivity, improved work-life balance, and a focus on sustainability.

“The survey underscores the significant advantages of supporting and promoting women in remote work settings. As businesses continue to navigate the remote work landscape, understanding and leveraging the strengths of female remote workers can lead to enhanced productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall success.”

Business

Lidl GB Targets Pembroke Dock for new store locations in Wales

Published

1 hour ago

April 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

LIDL GB has disclosed a coveted list of locations for new stores across Wales, prominently featuring Pembroke Dock among other key Welsh towns such as Newport, Cardiff, and Brecon. This announcement is part of the retailer’s broader strategy to inaugurate hundreds of new outlets throughout Great Britain, a plan that promises to generate thousands of jobs and revitalize local economies.

As Lidl marks its 30th anniversary since launching its first store, the company not only celebrates a historic market share peak of 8% but also reflects on a year of substantial infrastructural investments. These initiatives include the unveiling of the largest global distribution centre in Luton and the expansion of the Welsh distribution hub in Bridgend, alongside enhancements at the Belvedere warehouse which is set to double in capacity upon completion.

Richard Taylor, Lidl GB’s Chief Development Officer, elaborated on the company’s ambitious growth trajectory. “With significant investments fortifying our operations and a series of strategic store enhancements, our market position has never been stronger,” he stated. Taylor highlighted the brand’s ongoing status as the fastest-growing bricks and mortar supermarket for seven consecutive months, underscoring its relentless pursuit of operational excellence and commitment to affordability.

The proposed expansion into Pembroke Dock is poised to bring high-quality, affordable groceries closer to more households, aligning with Lidl’s mission to make good food accessible to all. The move is expected to attract a larger customer base, boosting Lidl’s market presence even further.

In pursuit of suitable sites, Lidl is offering incentives such as a finder’s fee for identifying viable locations, which includes 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds. Ideal sites would be prominent, easily accessible, and have substantial traffic or pedestrian flow, accommodating stores between 18,000 and 26,500 square feet with ample parking.

The strategic choice of Pembroke Dock reflects Lidl’s investment in regions with growth potential, ensuring that the benefits of its expansion are felt widely across Wales and beyond. As the retailer continues to explore innovative expansion avenues, the future looks promising for both Lidl and the communities it serves.

News

Narberth councillor monitoring town traffic problems

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MOTORISTS driving through Narberth were caught in long delays last Friday.

Some drivers reported being stuck in the town centre snarl up for more than an hour as congestion built on the one-way system and approach roads.

The problem was so bad that it featured on travel reports broadcast on BBC Radio.

County Councillor for Narberth, Marc Tierney said that he had raised concerns over additional traffic build ups before the temporary closure of Redstone Road with Council officers and Dyfed Powys Police but was unable to confirm the exact cause of the delays last week.

Redstone Road will remain closed for a further couple of weeks at its current junction with the A40, as work continues on the multi-million pound, EU-funded Llanddewi Velfrey to Redstone Cross by-pass scheme.

Cllr Tierney said: “Residents and businesses were severely impacted by the gridlock that brought Narberth to a standstill for hours last Friday afternoon. Traffic has been a little heavier during peak times due to Redstone Road being closed, but thankfully both the weekend closure of the A40 and Redstone closure have been managed well so far by the contractors, Griffiths Ltd and Pembrokeshire County Council.”

With the bank holiday weekend approaching, Cllr Tierney is reminding residents and businesses of the possibility of further delays and is asking motorists to be considerate when driving through the town:

“We know that traffic can be a problem in Narberth and I’ve shared my concerns on this incident with the relevant organisations. I’d ask that all motorists travelling through town be considerate of other road users especially whilst Redstone Road remains closed and as we approach a busy bank holiday weekend.”