IRISH JJ KILLER’S HOSPITAL ORDER
Convert to Islam stabs ex-soldier to death then places crucifix on body
A MAN who stabbed a former Irish soldier, placed a crucifix on his chest and then filmed the body has been convicted of manslaughter.
Convert to Islam Leo Pryce, 22, admitted killing 45-year-old James “JJ” Donnelly in a violent and sustained attack at his home in West London.
Mr Donnelly was originally from Co Tipperary and served on UN overseas peacekeeping missions with the Defence Forces.
Pryce, of Blair Close, Hayes, West London, was sentenced to an indefinite Hospital Order under section 37 of the UK Mental Health Act. He denied murder and a plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility was accepted at an earlier court sitting. Pryce, who was suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia, also pleaded guilty to having a weapon and two counts of assault. The victim, who lived with his elderly aunt, was found by her with slash wounds to his neck and the crucifix on his chest, the court heard. Pryce had befriended the ex-soldier, who was a talented musician, in the weeks leading up to the attack on July 15, 2023. He told workers at a mosque Mr Donnelly was a “Kafir” or infidel and a “Dajjal” or anti-christ.
The killer shouted “Allahu Akbar” as police used Tasers to arrest him.
Prosecutor Caroline Carberry told the Old Bailey James Donnelly had been living with his 87-year-old aunt Winnie Corrigan who found him dead on his bedroom floor.
She added: “James was clothed, lying face up on his bedroom floor with a fatal knife injury across his neck. He had also been stabbed in the eye.
“A crucifix had been placed on his chest and a knife had been placed in his left hand.” The court heard Pryce had been seen in the victim’s garden hours earlier dressed in a long white robe. He told staff at a mosque about the killing after evening prayers and showed them a video on his phone. Ms Carberry added: “The video depicted James Donnelly pinned to the floor with wounds to his neck, his eye and his head. He was clearly deceased.” The court heard Mr Donnelly was a devout Catholic who took great comfort in his faith and led group pilgrimages to the shrine at Lourdes. In a victim impact statement read out in court his sister Fiona Ryan said: “The brutality in the way he was killed has left a scar on our minds and in our hearts for the rest of our lives.”