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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Teenager's knife attacker jailed | Teenager's knife attacker jailed |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A man who repeatedly stabbed a girl and left her for dead in a Lancashire park has been jailed for life. | A man who repeatedly stabbed a girl and left her for dead in a Lancashire park has been jailed for life. |
| Jessica Knight, then 14, was listening to her MP3 player when French national Kristofer Beddar, 21, knifed her about 20 times. | Jessica Knight, then 14, was listening to her MP3 player when French national Kristofer Beddar, 21, knifed her about 20 times. |
| She underwent five hours of emergency surgery after passers-by found her in the park in Astley Village, Chorley. | She underwent five hours of emergency surgery after passers-by found her in the park in Astley Village, Chorley. |
| Beddar was found guilty of attempted murder at Preston Crown Court and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years. | Beddar was found guilty of attempted murder at Preston Crown Court and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years. |
| He had admitted wounding with intent, but claimed he had no memory of attacking Jessica and no motive to kill her. | He had admitted wounding with intent, but claimed he had no memory of attacking Jessica and no motive to kill her. |
| Beddar, of Daisy Hill Drive, Adlington, was described in court as a loner with a fiery temper who had downed half a bottle of whisky before the attack. | Beddar, of Daisy Hill Drive, Adlington, was described in court as a loner with a fiery temper who had downed half a bottle of whisky before the attack. |
| Frenzied attack | |
| He later confessed to his mother Marion, saying: "Mum, I think it must have been me." She turned him in to the police. | He later confessed to his mother Marion, saying: "Mum, I think it must have been me." She turned him in to the police. |
| Beddar was living with members of his English family at the time of the attack. | Beddar was living with members of his English family at the time of the attack. |
| Judge Anthony Russell QC, Recorder of Preston, said: "This was a frenzied attack with a knife that you habitually carried." | Judge Anthony Russell QC, Recorder of Preston, said: "This was a frenzied attack with a knife that you habitually carried." |
| Mr Russell said Beddar had ruined the lives of Jessica, her family and his own mother - who had to give evidence against him during the trial. | |
| Jessica now suffers from long-term psychological problems | |
| "Your intention was to kill her, no one knows why. There is no evidence of any mental illness which could explain it," the judge said. | "Your intention was to kill her, no one knows why. There is no evidence of any mental illness which could explain it," the judge said. |
| "Anyone who can do what you did must be regarded as a danger to the public." | "Anyone who can do what you did must be regarded as a danger to the public." |
| Jessica, now 15, was walking through the park to meet a friend when the stabbing happened. | Jessica, now 15, was walking through the park to meet a friend when the stabbing happened. |
| She was knifed in the chest, neck, stomach and back and has been left with "long-term physical and psychological problems", the court heard. | She was knifed in the chest, neck, stomach and back and has been left with "long-term physical and psychological problems", the court heard. |
| Speaking after the hearing, Det Supt Steve Brunskill, who led the Lancashire Police investigation, said he initially thought Jessica would die following the "terrible attack". | Speaking after the hearing, Det Supt Steve Brunskill, who led the Lancashire Police investigation, said he initially thought Jessica would die following the "terrible attack". |
| He said: "When I was called to that scene that evening I believed that I would be leading a murder investigation." | He said: "When I was called to that scene that evening I believed that I would be leading a murder investigation." |
| Overwhelming support | |
| The detective praised the actions of cyclist Gareth Crook, who found Jessica; Pc Andrew Sumner, one of the first officers on the scene; and medical staff for keeping her alive. | |
| "It is not often I get to meet the victims of such horrific crimes but thankfully in this case I have been able to do so," he added. | "It is not often I get to meet the victims of such horrific crimes but thankfully in this case I have been able to do so," he added. |
| "Jess is a lovely, giggly young girl, with great determination which must have been an influencing factor in her survival." | "Jess is a lovely, giggly young girl, with great determination which must have been an influencing factor in her survival." |
| In a statement, Jessica's parents - Jill Walmsley and Richard Knight - said they felt blessed their daughter had survived such a vicious attack. | |
| Jessica's parents on knife attacker | |
| They said justice had been served and thanked Beddar's mother, Marion for handing her son into police. | |
| "She had an agonising decision to make, but she made the right one when she brought her son forward and for that we are incredibly grateful," said the couple. | |
| "Kristofer Beddar's actions not only affected our family and friends, but a whole community and the support we have had has been overwhelming. | |
| "Jessica is a typical teenager - she is stubborn, determined and giggly. Her sheer determination to survive and the immense bravery she has shown throughout her ordeal has been an inspiration to us all." |