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'Provoked' boat sex killer jailed | |
(10 minutes later) | |
A man who stabbed his partner and his best friend to death after he found them having sex on his canal boat has been jailed for 12 years. | |
William Cranston was previously cleared of their murders but convicted of manslaughter, by reason of provocation. | William Cranston was previously cleared of their murders but convicted of manslaughter, by reason of provocation. |
The 44-year-old killed Kay Morton, 39, and Paul Wilkins, 55, on a narrow boat in Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire in September. | |
Cranston was sentenced to 12 years by a judge at Kingston Crown Court. | |
'Remorse genuine' | 'Remorse genuine' |
Judge Anthony Leonard QC told Cranston: "You are responsible for the deaths of two individuals who did not deserve to die at your hands. | Judge Anthony Leonard QC told Cranston: "You are responsible for the deaths of two individuals who did not deserve to die at your hands. |
"It was clear when you gave your evidence that you showed remorse for what you had done and I felt that the remorse was genuine. | "It was clear when you gave your evidence that you showed remorse for what you had done and I felt that the remorse was genuine. |
"I take into account that you tried to administer first aid as they lay in the cabin." | "I take into account that you tried to administer first aid as they lay in the cabin." |
But he said the 12 year sentence was a necessary reflection of the "seriousness" of the two killings, Cranston's "short fuse" and the "sustained" attack he inflicted on Mr Wilkins. | But he said the 12 year sentence was a necessary reflection of the "seriousness" of the two killings, Cranston's "short fuse" and the "sustained" attack he inflicted on Mr Wilkins. |
At Cranston's trial last month Reading Crown Court heard how he, Ms Morton and Mr Wilkins had been drinking at a nearby pub before returning to the narrow boat where they continued drinking and smoking cannabis. | At Cranston's trial last month Reading Crown Court heard how he, Ms Morton and Mr Wilkins had been drinking at a nearby pub before returning to the narrow boat where they continued drinking and smoking cannabis. |
Cranston went to bed but later woke up to find his partner and friend having sex. | Cranston went to bed but later woke up to find his partner and friend having sex. |
'Lashed out' | 'Lashed out' |
He told police after the stabbings: "Paul jumped up and came towards me. | He told police after the stabbings: "Paul jumped up and came towards me. |
"I can't remember picking up the knife. When he came towards me, I just sort of lashed out to find out what was going on. | "I can't remember picking up the knife. When he came towards me, I just sort of lashed out to find out what was going on. |
"Literally five seconds later, they were both on the floor bleeding to death, and I've got a knife in my hand." | "Literally five seconds later, they were both on the floor bleeding to death, and I've got a knife in my hand." |
The jury had been told Cranston's baby son, Kevin, had died the previous February on the sofa where he discovered the pair. | The jury had been told Cranston's baby son, Kevin, had died the previous February on the sofa where he discovered the pair. |
Cranston told the court: "I can't believe this has happened to everybody. I just walked in there and lost my rag completely." | Cranston told the court: "I can't believe this has happened to everybody. I just walked in there and lost my rag completely." |
Cranston, who was handed two 12-year jail terms to be served concurrently, will have time already spent in custody deducted from the sentence. |
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