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| Woman sentenced for shop killing | Woman sentenced for shop killing |
| (6 days later) | |
| A woman who stabbed a widow to death with a carving knife in a Cardiff Poundstretcher store has been sentenced after admitting manslaughter. | A woman who stabbed a widow to death with a carving knife in a Cardiff Poundstretcher store has been sentenced after admitting manslaughter. |
| Deborah Hancock, 45, will serve an indefinite term in a psychiatric unit. | Deborah Hancock, 45, will serve an indefinite term in a psychiatric unit. |
| Retired hairdresser Valerie Thomas, 75, suffered the random attack in the city centre store and bled to death in hospital, Cardiff Crown Court was told. | Retired hairdresser Valerie Thomas, 75, suffered the random attack in the city centre store and bled to death in hospital, Cardiff Crown Court was told. |
| Hancock, of Butetown, Cardiff, who has a history of mental illness, was heard to say: "I should be locked up". | Hancock, of Butetown, Cardiff, who has a history of mental illness, was heard to say: "I should be locked up". |
| The court heard that Mrs Thomas, from Roath, Cardiff, told a shop assistant she thought she had been punched. | The court heard that Mrs Thomas, from Roath, Cardiff, told a shop assistant she thought she had been punched. |
| Staff saw an eight-inch carving knife sticking out of her back. | Staff saw an eight-inch carving knife sticking out of her back. |
| Peter Griffiths QC, prosecuting, said: "Valerie Thomas was a strong, decent and active lady who was loved by family and friends. | Peter Griffiths QC, prosecuting, said: "Valerie Thomas was a strong, decent and active lady who was loved by family and friends. |
| Hancock used a knife from the shelf in the Poundstretcher store | Hancock used a knife from the shelf in the Poundstretcher store |
| "She was the victim of a completely random attack but didn't realise she had been stabbed. | "She was the victim of a completely random attack but didn't realise she had been stabbed. |
| "She told a witness: 'That woman punched me,' as she walked through the shop with the knife handle sticking out of her back." | "She told a witness: 'That woman punched me,' as she walked through the shop with the knife handle sticking out of her back." |
| The court was told that on 19 October last year Hancock had taken the carving knife from a shelf at the shop in Church Street. | The court was told that on 19 October last year Hancock had taken the carving knife from a shelf at the shop in Church Street. |
| She used a cigarette lighter to melt its plastic wrapper then plunged the knife into Mrs Thomas's back. | She used a cigarette lighter to melt its plastic wrapper then plunged the knife into Mrs Thomas's back. |
| Hancock was then heard telling shoppers: "Call an ambulance. That woman's going to bleed to death. | Hancock was then heard telling shoppers: "Call an ambulance. That woman's going to bleed to death. |
| "I should be locked up. Perhaps they will give me the six years I want." | "I should be locked up. Perhaps they will give me the six years I want." |
| You should not go to prison but you will be sent to hospital where you will receive the treatment you need Judge Mr Justice Davis | You should not go to prison but you will be sent to hospital where you will receive the treatment you need Judge Mr Justice Davis |
| John Charles Rees QC, defending, said Hancock's actions were caused by her mental illness. | John Charles Rees QC, defending, said Hancock's actions were caused by her mental illness. |
| He said: "Looking at the history of her illness, when she has made cries for help and when she has been to institutions, it is clear the system let her down. | He said: "Looking at the history of her illness, when she has made cries for help and when she has been to institutions, it is clear the system let her down. |
| "That same system has also let Valerie Thomas and her family down." | "That same system has also let Valerie Thomas and her family down." |
| Hancock denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. | Hancock denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. |
| Judge Mr Justice Davis told Hancock: "This was not a wicked crime and to some extent you are a victim. | Judge Mr Justice Davis told Hancock: "This was not a wicked crime and to some extent you are a victim. |
| "But the true victim is Valerie Thomas. | "But the true victim is Valerie Thomas. |
| "Your true punishment will be having to live with what you have done for the rest of your life. | "Your true punishment will be having to live with what you have done for the rest of your life. |
| "You should not go to prison but you will be sent to hospital where you will receive the treatment you need." | "You should not go to prison but you will be sent to hospital where you will receive the treatment you need." |