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Golf club beheading man Jonathan Limani jailed for life | Golf club beheading man Jonathan Limani jailed for life |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man who beheaded a restaurant manager at a golf club has been jailed for life. | |
The body of Christopher Varian, 32, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, was discovered by colleagues at The Oxfordshire in Thame in August 2010. | The body of Christopher Varian, 32, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, was discovered by colleagues at The Oxfordshire in Thame in August 2010. |
Jonathan Limani, 33, formerly of Rycote Lane, Thame, pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility at Oxford Crown Court. | Jonathan Limani, 33, formerly of Rycote Lane, Thame, pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility at Oxford Crown Court. |
Limani, a waiter at the hotel, was told he would serve at least 19 years. | Limani, a waiter at the hotel, was told he would serve at least 19 years. |
Judge Anthony King said Limani, who is currently at Broadmoor Hospital, may never be released. | |
The court heard how staff had found the killer sitting near Mr Varian's decapitated body after attacking him with a knife. | The court heard how staff had found the killer sitting near Mr Varian's decapitated body after attacking him with a knife. |
'Total shock' | 'Total shock' |
Limani was said to have a lengthy history of mental ill health and paranoid schizophrenia. | Limani was said to have a lengthy history of mental ill health and paranoid schizophrenia. |
He also had a criminal conviction for supplying heroin in Switzerland. | |
Limani, an Albanian with a Swedish passport, had previously denied all charges when he appeared in court, last November. | |
The victim's father Nigel Varian, who runs a bed and breakfast with wife Sue in France, told the BBC about the day the couple learnt of their son's death. | The victim's father Nigel Varian, who runs a bed and breakfast with wife Sue in France, told the BBC about the day the couple learnt of their son's death. |
"It was a terrible, terrible day, because we were on our way over to our other son's wedding," he said. | "It was a terrible, terrible day, because we were on our way over to our other son's wedding," he said. |
"That Chris had been killed by this guy who worked for him, and that he was beheaded at the scene, was just impossible to get to grips with. | "That Chris had been killed by this guy who worked for him, and that he was beheaded at the scene, was just impossible to get to grips with. |
"It was just after lunchtime and when a break came up Chris went out to the staff smoking area to take a cigarette and while he was there this man Limani, who was a server, followed him out there and assaulted him with a knife. | "It was just after lunchtime and when a break came up Chris went out to the staff smoking area to take a cigarette and while he was there this man Limani, who was a server, followed him out there and assaulted him with a knife. |
"Chris didn't appear to have time to even cry out. | "Chris didn't appear to have time to even cry out. |
"When he was on the ground Limani then proceeded to decapitate him in the most gruesome manner. | "When he was on the ground Limani then proceeded to decapitate him in the most gruesome manner. |
"It was just a total shock to us when we heard this. This is probably the most shocking aspect of the whole case." | |
Mr Varian said they still thought about their son almost all the time. | |
Mrs Varian said: "It's still hard to come to terms with his loss and the horrendous manner in which he died. | |
"It's left me with a bed and breakfast business that I no longer want to be in. My heart's gone out of hospitality. | "It's left me with a bed and breakfast business that I no longer want to be in. My heart's gone out of hospitality. |
"We are now trying to sell and I don't know where we will go from here except that we want to be with our family and keep strong together." | "We are now trying to sell and I don't know where we will go from here except that we want to be with our family and keep strong together." |
Det Ch Insp Steve Tolmie, of Thames Valley Police's Major Crimes Unit, said it was one of the most violent crimes he had seen in a 30-year career. | |
"Any murder investigation is by its very nature violent and traumatic for the family," he said. | |
"This one was at the very high end of the scale and was certainly brutal and savage." | |
'Dreadful crime' | 'Dreadful crime' |
In an earlier statement the Varian family had questioned how Limani came to be living and working in the UK and said they thought there had been "a catalogue of errors". | |
Catherine Bearder, Liberal Democrat MEP for South East England, said: "This is a dreadful crime but it's very difficult to see how that could have been prevented. | Catherine Bearder, Liberal Democrat MEP for South East England, said: "This is a dreadful crime but it's very difficult to see how that could have been prevented. |
"It's always easier after the fact. | "It's always easier after the fact. |
"I'm working with my colleagues across Europe to increase cross-border co-operation with police forces." | "I'm working with my colleagues across Europe to increase cross-border co-operation with police forces." |
Det Ch Insp Tolmie said Limani applied for dual nationality when he was in Sweden. | |
"Because that was in place he then managed to enter the country, which he did legitimately. | |
"He didn't disclose the fact that he had previous convictions so he therefore managed to come in and find employment at The Oxfordshire hotel." | |
In a statement, The Oxfordshire said staff were glad the court had reached a verdict. | |
"Christopher was a much-loved member of staff and is greatly missed by all of us," it said. | |
"Our thoughts remain with his family and friends." | "Our thoughts remain with his family and friends." |