Neighbour killed and another hurt in psychotic attacks
A MAN who stabbed a pensioner to death and tried to kill a young mother after suffering a psychotic episode has been jailed for life.
Andrew Seal, 49, from Bridgend, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder.
He stabbed Gwilym Jones, 73, and Bridie Jones, 21, on May 15 in two separate attacks at the Oxford Court flats in Ogmore Vale.
Seal claimed that Ms Jones had spread a rumour that he was a paedophile and also claimed that Mr Jones (no relation), known locally as “Fruitbat”, had attacked his nephew.
The court heard there was no evidence for either accusation.
Before the attacks, Seal had written a “revenge planner” where he wrote down the names of people he wished to kill, as well as notes headed “Sunday Bloody Sunday”.
At around 10.30pm on May 15, Ms Jones was at home with her son, two, her friend Georgia Beynon, and her nine-month-old daughter.
They heard a knock at the front door and when Ms Jones opened it the defendant pushed his way in and pushed her against a cupboard.
Prosecutor Mike Jones said: “Ms Jones felt pain to arms and stomach and she screamed to her friend to call the police.
“The defendant grabbed Ms Jones around the neck and Ms Beynon watched in horror. She described him holding the knife high and making downward stabbing motions.
“Soon afterwards the defendant left the premises. Ms Jones was bleeding heavily.” A six-inch kitchen knife was later found at the flat with the handle broken off. Neighbours heard screaming from Ms Jones’ flat “like a horror film”.
Ms Jones received treatment for a laceration on her arm and two superficial abdomen injuries.
On May 16, the defendant’s sister Jacqueline Thomas had a phone call to say that the police were looking for her brother.
Seal was with her parents and she went to see them. They described Seal as being in a “terrible state” and with eyes like a “rabbit in the headlights”.
He was upset that he had “hurt the lady upstairs”.
Mrs Thomas said her brother told her: “Jac, I stabbed somebody. My head’s gone. I have been having these thoughts ...they won’t stop.”
Mrs Thomas called the police and Seal was arrested.
In hospital, being treated for an arm injury sustained in the attack, Seal asked his sister if he had a fight with Gwilym Jones.
Mrs Thomas informed the police and officers attended Mr Jones’ flat in Oxford Court. The victim was sitting on his settee, slumped and covered in blood and was dead.
A post mortem concluded that he died as a result of a single stab wound.
Seal, who suffers with epilepsy and was described as a “chronic” cannabis user, was described by psychiatrists following his arrest as experiencing psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety and depression.
Defence barrister Christopher Clee QC told the court: “Over the years, the family have expressed their concerns about the defendant’s deteriorating mental state, seemingly to no avail.”
Seal was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 years.