KILLER JAILED FOR 31 YEARS
OAP’S murderer was free to kill again after stabbing partner:
IN the early morning of May 16, 2008, a caretaker at a council block of flats in Swansea saw a trail of blood stretching down two floors.
The caretaker then saw an “agitated and crying” Jonathan Donne and another man walking down the stairs. Spotting Donne’s bloodstained hands, the caretaker immediately contacted the police.
Two officers arrived at the council flat in Griffith John Street in the city’s Brynmelyn area – and discovered the body of Michelle Harkett, Donne’s partner he had stabbed to death after a row over drugs.
After stabbing her in the chest, he had left her to die after helping himself to heroin she had concealed.
Donne pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the then 31-year-old was jailed indefinitely.
Now more than 10 years later, Donne was sentenced to at least 31 years in jail after he tied up and beat pensioner John Williams to death in his own home.
In 2008 Swansea Crown Court heard the story of the first time Donne killed.
In March 2008 the court heard Donne killed Michelle Harkett in their council flat in Griffith John Street.
Both were addicts and 36-year-old Miss Harkett died after arming herself with two knives in a row over drugs. Donne disarmed the mumof-four and stabbed her to death in their living room.
Donne pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and aged 31 at the time, he was jailed indefinitely after a High Court judge made him the subject of a special sentence of imprisonment for public protection.
Mr Justice Saunders said at the time Donne would have to serve at least four years behind bars before becoming eligible to apply to the parole board for early release.
But he would only be released at that point if the board considered him no
longer a danger and he was cured of his addiction to class A drugs.
Malcolm Bishop QC, prosecuting, said Miss Harkett had a “chaotic, drug-dominated way of life”.
In 2004 she met and set up home with Donne, who was addicted to heroin and cocaine.
The court in 2008 heard that 7.30am on May 16 the caretaker at the couple’s council block saw a trail of blood droplets leading from the eight floor down to the sixth. The caretaker then saw Donne and another man walking down the stairs.
Donne, who was crying and agitated, said: “Something has happened to my missus. Phone for an ambulance — there’s something wrong with her.”
The caretaker, who noticed Donne’s hands were bloodstained, contacted the police and two community support officers found Miss Harkett’s body in the flat the pair shared.
Mr Bishop said the previous evening a row erupted between Donne and Miss Harkett over drugs and the defendant suddenly butted her in the face.
A short time later, the court heard, Miss Harkett emerged from the kitchen with a knife in each hand - and sticking out of her thigh was a pair of scissors she had stabbed herself with.
Waving the knives, Miss Harkett approached her boyfriend, Mr Bishop said. Donne responded by throwing her to the floor and jumping on top of her.
He appeared to be punching her - but was in fact stabbing her.
Mr Bishop said Donne’s plea to manslaughter was on the grounds of lack of intent. Donne had set out to defend himself but ended up using disproportionate force.
Released from prison, Donne began the evening of Thursday, March 29 this year being driven around Swansea trying to get money - and ended it by robbing and murdering a pensioner.
A HM Prison and Probation Service spokesperson said yesterday: “This (Mr Williams’s murder) was a truly awful crime and our sincere condolences remain with Mr Williams’s family and friends. Serious further offences like this one are very rare but each one is taken extremely seriously and investigated fully.”