News

Tenby man guilty of murder

Published

11 years ago

February 11, 2014

Tom Sinclair

TENBY man Steven Williams was found guilty of the murder of Joanna Hall at Swansea Crown Court yesterday (Thursday).

The jury reached a majority verdict of 10 to 2 after eight hours of deliberation.

After they argued at barmaid Miss Hall’s flat in Cresswell Court in the early hours of March 16 last year, Williams “flipped” and used a stainless steel kitchen knife to stab her repeatedly leaving her bleeding profusely from 40 injuries including deep slash and stab wounds.

Joanna died three weeks later as a result of her injuries.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Steven Williams, 31, said “will you just die?” after attacking Joanna Hall at her flat in Tenby, March 16, last year.

Williams, an alcoholic, claimed throughout his trial that an unknown knifeman must have broken into the property in the morning while he briefly went to the shops to buy whisky. But Ms Hall was awake when the air ambulance arrived and was able to say what had happened, naming her attacker. Williams denied that he had been in a relationship with Ms Hall but she revealed it to her sister, Georgina Marwick, in hospital.

When asked who had stabbed her, she replied: “Someone I know. I’ve been seeing him and his name is Steven Williams.”

Mrs Marwick had told the court: “He got a knife and he stabbed her. Jo didn’t want to tell the police because she was scared.

“She said that he’d threatened if she told anyone, he’d come and finish her off or get someone else to do it.

“She said she had asked him (Williams) to phone for help, but he refused saying ‘you have a choice, take your life, or I’ll take it for you’.”

The court had heard how Mr Williams had said that he “didn’t want to have to do this, but I’m going to have to kill you now. I’m not going back to prison”.

Mrs Marwick said her sister had told her that Williams had sat with her all night, just smoking cigarettes.

“She remembers struggling to take a deep breath. He said ‘will you just die?’” she said.

Williams claimed in his defence he went to Ms Hall’s flat very early on March 16, drinking whisky on the way, because he thought she had been self-harming.

At about 7.30am he went to Sainsbury’s and left Ms Hall stroking her pet dog on the sofa, the court was told. When he returned a short time later, he found her injured, he claimed. But jurors heard from a neighbour that there was a noisy argument in Ms Hall’s flat from around 1.30am.

Williams claimed the argument lasted for up to 10 minutes and was sparked when Ms Hall tried to kiss him – but had not mentioned it until giving evidence as he “did not think that it was relevant”.

Steven Williams will be sentenced by the Judge, The Honourable Mrs Justice Nicola Davies DBE today (February 7).

News

Man remanded in custody after trespassing with intention to commit sexual act

Published

7 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A FISHGUARD man who has admitted the attempted strangulation of a woman and of trespassing at an unidentified address with the intention of committing a sexual act has appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

Benjamin Guiver, 34, was listed for sentence this afternoon (Monday, October 7) however his sentencing was adjourned after barristers went into counsel following the request of the defence.

Guiver, of Heol Glyndwr, Fishguard also stands to be sentenced for the grievous bodily harm of a victim described by Dyfed-Powys Police officers as having sustained ‘serious facial injuries’ in ‘a reportedly sustained attack’ and the sexual assault of a woman by penetration. He has pleaded guilty to all four offences.

Guiver’s sentencing will now proceed on October 18 and the defendant was remanded in custody.

News

Communities Taking the Lead to get Better Broadband

Published

8 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Luke Sinclair

Locals in Dale, Pembrokeshire successfully use UK Government’s Project Gigabit voucher scheme to connect the village with high-speed internet

Dale, a small rural community on the coast of Pembrokeshire has long endured poor internet connectivity that has plagued its residents with little to no ability to use the internet for work, communication or entertainment. With the movement of most services and day-to-day tasks to online, having limited internet access was having a detrimental effect on residents who were experiencing firsthand the digital divide.

However, after being told about a UK Government funded project by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Digital Champions, this has now thankfully changed and much of Dale is now connected to gigabit-capable broadband that serves the whole village.

Project Gigabit aims to provide lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband (1,000 Mbps) to homes and businesses across the UK. With £5 billion UK Government investment, it targets areas that currently have poor internet connectivity, enabling them to have access to the same high-speed internet as urban areas.

With the voucher scheme, residents and businesses in eligible areas have been able to apply for financial help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband.

Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Place, the Region and Climate Change, said: “Connecting our rural communities is a significant step in the digital infrastructure of Pembrokeshire.

“Along with our partners, this extensive programme of work has transformed full fibre connectivity and will futureproof the network in our county.

“The commitment from this authority will ensure our communities won’t be left without connection.

“There is more to do, but thanks to a proactive approach by the County Council, full fibre will be offered to more and more communities all the time.”

The benefits of being better connected rurally are uncontested with the results already being seen in Dale. From helping local businesses to improving access to digital services, having reliable, fast internet access has been the core of the connectivity solution for the Pembrokeshire village.

Going forward, the UK Government ‘Project Gigabit’ is about making sure everyone in the UK, no matter where they live, has access to fast and reliable internet, bridging the digital divide and providing the opportunity for every harder to reach community to stay connected.

Crime

Pembrokeshire chef admits causing taxi driver’s death

Published

11 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Court Reporter

A CHEF from Pembrokeshire has admitted causing the death local taxi driver, Christopher Boyle.

Mateusz Sikorski, 30, formerly of Manorbier and now residing in the Narberth area, appeared at Swansea Crown Court today, Monday, 7 October. Sikorski pleaded guilty to causing the death of 57-year-old Mr Boyle on 2 September 2024 while driving a BMW Series 1 car on the A4139 in Penally.

Sikorski was initially arrested and charged shortly after the incident and first appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on 5 September, where he was remanded in custody. However, on 12 September, Sikorski was granted bail with several strict conditions: he must reside in the Narberth area, adhere to an 8 pm-8 am curfew, and report to a police station weekly. He was also issued an interim driving ban.

The fatal crash, which involved Sikorski’s car and Mr Boyle’s silver Volkswagen taxi, occurred on the Penally by-pass near Tenby. Mr Boyle, affectionately known as “Mucker,” was a father-of-five and a well-known figure in the community. Sadly, he died at the scene of the collision.

During today’s hearing, Judge Catherine Richards renewed Sikorski’s bail conditions and adjourned the case for sentencing until Friday, 8 November.