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| 'Bad mood' killer jailed for life | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man who stabbed a woman to death as she walked her dog because he was feeling "very angry" has been jailed for life. | A man who stabbed a woman to death as she walked her dog because he was feeling "very angry" has been jailed for life. |
| Robert Cusworth, 25, of Levings Close, Aylesbury, stabbed Sally Garwood, 34, in the neck and head before calling police to say he had killed a stranger. | Robert Cusworth, 25, of Levings Close, Aylesbury, stabbed Sally Garwood, 34, in the neck and head before calling police to say he had killed a stranger. |
| The teaching assistant suffered 38 injuries in Quarrendon playing fields, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on 11 July. | The teaching assistant suffered 38 injuries in Quarrendon playing fields, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on 11 July. |
| Cusworth was told at Reading Crown Court he would serve at least 20 years. | Cusworth was told at Reading Crown Court he would serve at least 20 years. |
| Carl Barker, reviewing lawyer at Thames Valley Crown Prosecution Service, said after the case that it "was an utterly senseless and motiveless attack by a man on a much smaller woman who was simply enjoying walking her dog on a Saturday afternoon". | |
| He said: "Robert Cusworth did not know Sally Garwood, let alone harbour any previous bad feelings towards her. | |
| 'Pent-up aggression' | 'Pent-up aggression' |
| "As he told police, he was in a bad mood, and he had bought a knife the day before because he felt 'very very angry' and wanted 'to hurt someone'." | |
| Cusworth, who admitted murdering Mrs Garwood at a previous hearing, was told he would serve a minimum of 20 years in prison, less 200 days he has already spent in custody. | |
| Mrs Garwood, who worked at the Autism Resource Base at the Lord Williams's School, Thame, Oxfordshire, had hoped to start a family with her husband Simon. | Mrs Garwood, who worked at the Autism Resource Base at the Lord Williams's School, Thame, Oxfordshire, had hoped to start a family with her husband Simon. |
| Her body was found in a stream in the park in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, surrounded by blood. | Her body was found in a stream in the park in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, surrounded by blood. |
| Robert Cusworth bought the knife from a supermarket | Robert Cusworth bought the knife from a supermarket |
| Her terrier Billy was loyally sitting by her side, despite having slipped his lead during the frenzied assault, the court heard. | Her terrier Billy was loyally sitting by her side, despite having slipped his lead during the frenzied assault, the court heard. |
| Mrs Garwood had been attacked from behind by Cusworth and tried to fight him off, causing his own neck to be cut with the knife. | Mrs Garwood had been attacked from behind by Cusworth and tried to fight him off, causing his own neck to be cut with the knife. |
| Cusworth later told police he launched the random attack, which was witnessed by a nine-year-old boy hiding behind a bush, because he wanted to "harm somebody". | Cusworth later told police he launched the random attack, which was witnessed by a nine-year-old boy hiding behind a bush, because he wanted to "harm somebody". |
| Mrs Garwood's jugular vein was severed by the stainless steel kitchen knife in the "frenzied attack", the court was told. | Mrs Garwood's jugular vein was severed by the stainless steel kitchen knife in the "frenzied attack", the court was told. |
| Cusworth had bought the knife for £2 from Tesco the previous night with the intention of killing someone, because he felt "very, very angry". | Cusworth had bought the knife for £2 from Tesco the previous night with the intention of killing someone, because he felt "very, very angry". |
| He had gone to the supermarket instead of working a shift at The Grapes pub on the evening of Friday 10 July last year, but said he only decided to buy the weapon while he was in there. | He had gone to the supermarket instead of working a shift at The Grapes pub on the evening of Friday 10 July last year, but said he only decided to buy the weapon while he was in there. |
| Every job and path since leaving school she took because she wanted to help make a difference and make things better for others Simon Garwood, victim's husband | Every job and path since leaving school she took because she wanted to help make a difference and make things better for others Simon Garwood, victim's husband |
| He then walked to nearby Quarrendon Fields armed with the knife, which has an 8.5cm (3.3in) blade. | He then walked to nearby Quarrendon Fields armed with the knife, which has an 8.5cm (3.3in) blade. |
| Neil Moore, prosecuting, told the court: "He [Cusworth] grabbed hold of her and inflicted on her 26 separate wounds to the head and neck in what the pathologist said was a sustained and determined attack from behind." | Neil Moore, prosecuting, told the court: "He [Cusworth] grabbed hold of her and inflicted on her 26 separate wounds to the head and neck in what the pathologist said was a sustained and determined attack from behind." |
| Her body was discovered by passers-by, including a jogger who Cusworth told police he had intended to attack before seeing his victim. | Her body was discovered by passers-by, including a jogger who Cusworth told police he had intended to attack before seeing his victim. |
| Mr Moore said: "The attack was apparently without motive. The defendant told police he was suffering from pent-up aggression and that he had felt that way in the past." | Mr Moore said: "The attack was apparently without motive. The defendant told police he was suffering from pent-up aggression and that he had felt that way in the past." |
| Speaking outside court, Simon Garwood paid tribute to his late wife and said that despite his Christian faith, he could not bring himself to forgive Cusworth. | Speaking outside court, Simon Garwood paid tribute to his late wife and said that despite his Christian faith, he could not bring himself to forgive Cusworth. |
| "Sally was a truly wonderful person. She dedicated her whole life to serving God and helping and loving others," he said. | "Sally was a truly wonderful person. She dedicated her whole life to serving God and helping and loving others," he said. |
| "Every job and path since leaving school she took because she wanted to help make a difference and make things better for others, particularly children and young people. | "Every job and path since leaving school she took because she wanted to help make a difference and make things better for others, particularly children and young people. |
| "No tribute could do justice to simply the best person and friend I have ever known." | "No tribute could do justice to simply the best person and friend I have ever known." |