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| 'Viking' killing of woman and son | 'Viking' killing of woman and son |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A 65-year-old man has been jailed for life for killing his partner and their son before laying him out in a Viking-style ritual. | A 65-year-old man has been jailed for life for killing his partner and their son before laying him out in a Viking-style ritual. |
| James Conan strangled Kirsty O'Connell, 21, before stabbing her 20 times. He then played with their four-year-old son Patrick, before smothering him. | James Conan strangled Kirsty O'Connell, 21, before stabbing her 20 times. He then played with their four-year-old son Patrick, before smothering him. |
| They were found at a flat in Woolford Close, Winchester, in August 2007. Patrick's body had a torch in one hand. | They were found at a flat in Woolford Close, Winchester, in August 2007. Patrick's body had a torch in one hand. |
| Conan was told he must serve a minimum of 16 years. | Conan was told he must serve a minimum of 16 years. |
| He pleaded guilty to murdering Miss O'Connell and to the manslaughter of Patrick, due to diminished responsibility. | |
| The ritual nature of laying out is bizarre. It's as if the little boy has been sent off for a journey Stewart Jones QC, prosecuting | The ritual nature of laying out is bizarre. It's as if the little boy has been sent off for a journey Stewart Jones QC, prosecuting |
| The court was told Miss O'Connell had found out Conan was having an affair with another young woman and she told him to leave the flat. | The court was told Miss O'Connell had found out Conan was having an affair with another young woman and she told him to leave the flat. |
| On 3 August Conan, whose original surname was Walsh, killed Miss O'Connell and severed her jugular vein before lighting a cigarette and playing with Patrick, known as PJ, for half an hour. | On 3 August Conan, whose original surname was Walsh, killed Miss O'Connell and severed her jugular vein before lighting a cigarette and playing with Patrick, known as PJ, for half an hour. |
| Afterwards he took him to the main bedroom of their council flat, smothered him with a pillow and bathed him. | Afterwards he took him to the main bedroom of their council flat, smothered him with a pillow and bathed him. |
| The youngster was then taken back to his room and "laid out ceremoniously" with items put around him, including a toy dagger and guns and a torch in his hand. | The youngster was then taken back to his room and "laid out ceremoniously" with items put around him, including a toy dagger and guns and a torch in his hand. |
| Conan was described as controlling by friends of Miss O'Connell | Conan was described as controlling by friends of Miss O'Connell |
| A note from Conan was also placed near the body. | A note from Conan was also placed near the body. |
| Stewart Jones QC, prosecuting, said: "The ritual nature of laying out is bizarre. It's as if the little boy has been sent off for a journey." | Stewart Jones QC, prosecuting, said: "The ritual nature of laying out is bizarre. It's as if the little boy has been sent off for a journey." |
| He told the court Conan had changed his name because it had significance in Nordic legend. | He told the court Conan had changed his name because it had significance in Nordic legend. |
| Mr Jones QC, added: "This may go some way to explain the boy being laid out." | Mr Jones QC, added: "This may go some way to explain the boy being laid out." |
| Police officers went to the property after Miss O'Connell's family reported them both missing for several days. | Police officers went to the property after Miss O'Connell's family reported them both missing for several days. |
| The court was told Conan answered the door and said he had killed the pair. | The court was told Conan answered the door and said he had killed the pair. |
| 'Obsessive' | 'Obsessive' |
| Conan, a widower, had met Miss O'Connell when she was a schoolgirl as they were neighbours and her mother had taken pity on him and his mentally ill wife who has since died. | Conan, a widower, had met Miss O'Connell when she was a schoolgirl as they were neighbours and her mother had taken pity on him and his mentally ill wife who has since died. |
| Miss O'Connell's mother would cook them meals that her daughter would take over. | Miss O'Connell's mother would cook them meals that her daughter would take over. |
| Mr Jones said that soon Miss O'Connell and her friends were smoking and drinking at Conan's house and, aged 17, she became pregnant by Conan. | Mr Jones said that soon Miss O'Connell and her friends were smoking and drinking at Conan's house and, aged 17, she became pregnant by Conan. |
| The bodies were found at a council flat in Woolford Close, Winchester | The bodies were found at a council flat in Woolford Close, Winchester |
| She hid the pregnancy and the identity of the father from her family but when Miss O'Connell was then given a council flat, Conan moved in despite opposition from the family. | She hid the pregnancy and the identity of the father from her family but when Miss O'Connell was then given a council flat, Conan moved in despite opposition from the family. |
| Friends of Miss O'Connell, who hoped to study law at university, said that the "obsessive" Conan was controlling and never let her out alone. | Friends of Miss O'Connell, who hoped to study law at university, said that the "obsessive" Conan was controlling and never let her out alone. |
| After finding out he had been having an affair, the couple argued and Conan then suffered "paroxysms of jealous and thwarted rage" which led to the attack. | After finding out he had been having an affair, the couple argued and Conan then suffered "paroxysms of jealous and thwarted rage" which led to the attack. |
| The court was told three doctors agreed Conan had suffered a temporary abnormality of mind when he killed Miss O'Connell. | The court was told three doctors agreed Conan had suffered a temporary abnormality of mind when he killed Miss O'Connell. |
| Justice Royce told Conan his crimes were "terrible offences". | Justice Royce told Conan his crimes were "terrible offences". |
| He added: "You are in the autumn of your days, Kirsty and Patrick had their lives stretching out before them. Lives that were cruelly and selfishly and unforgivably cut short by you." | He added: "You are in the autumn of your days, Kirsty and Patrick had their lives stretching out before them. Lives that were cruelly and selfishly and unforgivably cut short by you." |
| In a statement shortly after her death, Miss O'Connell's family described her as "a devoted mother and a much loved daughter". | In a statement shortly after her death, Miss O'Connell's family described her as "a devoted mother and a much loved daughter". |