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Student who stabbed boyfriend loses appeal against sentence Student who stabbed boyfriend loses appeal against sentence
(35 minutes later)
An Oxford University medical student who avoided jail after stabbing her boyfriend with a bread knife has lost an appeal against her suspended sentence.An Oxford University medical student who avoided jail after stabbing her boyfriend with a bread knife has lost an appeal against her suspended sentence.
Lavinia Woodward, 25, attacked her then partner after she had been drinking at her university accommodation at Christ Church college. In September last year at Oxford crown court she was given a 10-month prison term suspended for 18 months after admitting unlawful wounding. Lavinia Woodward, 25, attacked her then partner after she had been drinking at her university accommodation at Christ Church College.
She had been due to be sentenced earlier but a judge gave her four months to prove she could stay out of trouble. She was given a 10-month prison term suspended for 18 months after admitting unlawful wounding last September at Oxford crown court.
On Friday Woodward challenged her sentence at the court of appeal. Her lawyers argued that the exceptional circumstances of her case – including her mental health difficulties – meant she could have been given a conditional discharge or a fine. Woodward had been due to be sentenced earlier, but a judge gave her four months to prove she could stay out of trouble.
Jim Sturman QC said the suspended sentence has affected her ability to find work. He told the court: “I appreciate it would be an exceptional course, but she is an exceptional candidate.” On Friday, Woodward challenged her sentence at the court of appeal. Her lawyers argued the exceptional circumstances of her case, including her mental health difficulties, meant she could have been given a conditional discharge or a fine.
Jim Sturman QC said the suspended sentence has affected her ability to find work. “I appreciate it would be an exceptional course, but she is an exceptional candidate,” he told the court.
But the appeal judge Johannah Cutts said the crown court judge had shown compassion by suspending the jail term.But the appeal judge Johannah Cutts said the crown court judge had shown compassion by suspending the jail term.
Sitting with Lord Justice Simon and Mr Justice Goose, Cutts said: “We accept that she had powerful mitigation. This nonetheless remained a serious offence which in our view merited a custodial element to the sentence.Sitting with Lord Justice Simon and Mr Justice Goose, Cutts said: “We accept that she had powerful mitigation. This nonetheless remained a serious offence which in our view merited a custodial element to the sentence.
“It was by reason of the powerful mitigation that the judge was able to take an exceptional course and suspend the custodial term. It was a constructive and compassionate sentence.”“It was by reason of the powerful mitigation that the judge was able to take an exceptional course and suspend the custodial term. It was a constructive and compassionate sentence.”
The stabbing happened in December 2016 when Woodward’s partner, a Cambridge University student, visited her in Oxford. He realised she had been drinking, and when Woodward discovered he had contacted her mother she became “extremely angry” and attacked him with a bread knife before throwing things at him. He sustained cuts to his leg and fingers. The stabbing happened in December 2016 when Woodward’s partner, a Cambridge University student, visited her in Oxford. He realised she had been drinking, and when Woodward discovered he had contacted her mother, she became “extremely angry” and attacked him with a bread knife before throwing things at him. He sustained cuts to his leg and fingers.
Sturman told the court Woodward had undergone voluntary drug tests and had been clean for the past 18 months. He said she had accepted she would never fulfil her ambition of becoming a heart surgeon, but hoped to pursue a career in medical research. Sturman told the court Woodward had undergone voluntary drug tests and been clean for the past 18 months. He said she had accepted she would never fulfil her ambition of becoming a heart surgeon, but hoped to pursue a career in medical research.
A character reference from a former professor at Oxford said she was the most talented undergraduate he had seen in his laboratory over the past 25 years. The court heard that she had made an observation while studying that had led to the founding of a research department at the university. A character reference from a former professor at Oxford said she was the most talented undergraduate he had seen in his laboratory over the past 25 years. The court heard she had made an observation while studying that had led to the founding of a research department at the university.
CrimeCrime
SentencingSentencing
UK criminal justice
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