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03/02/2006
Samurai sword killer receives life sentence
A Belfast man who pleaded guilty to murdering a 33-year-old father-of-two with a sword was jailed for life today at Craigavon Crown Court.
Stephen Henry, 29, from Mountpottinger Road, was handed down a minimum 13-year sentence for a savage attack on John Cooke in May 2004.
It is understood that the attack, which occurred in a house in Church Lane in Lisburn, had left Mr Cooke with multiple injuries and wounds so severe that his left arm had nearly been severed.
Police had been directed to the house after a car crash on Lisburn's Hillhall Road involving Mr Henry's girlfriend Margaret Lundy.
Officers had found Miss Lundy in a distressed state and she had directed them to the house where Mr Cooke was found with fatal injuries.
The court heard that Miss Lundy had not witnessed the attack but had fled the house after Henry was seen brandishing the sword.
Henry, who had made off after the attack, later gave himself up to police.
(SP)
Stephen Henry, 29, from Mountpottinger Road, was handed down a minimum 13-year sentence for a savage attack on John Cooke in May 2004.
It is understood that the attack, which occurred in a house in Church Lane in Lisburn, had left Mr Cooke with multiple injuries and wounds so severe that his left arm had nearly been severed.
Police had been directed to the house after a car crash on Lisburn's Hillhall Road involving Mr Henry's girlfriend Margaret Lundy.
Officers had found Miss Lundy in a distressed state and she had directed them to the house where Mr Cooke was found with fatal injuries.
The court heard that Miss Lundy had not witnessed the attack but had fled the house after Henry was seen brandishing the sword.
Henry, who had made off after the attack, later gave himself up to police.
(SP)
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