Kris Wade pleaded guilty to the murder of Christine James earlier this month
A killer who murdered a Cardiff grandmother in her flat has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.
Kris Wade had pleaded guilty earlier this month to the murder of Christine James, who was found dead in her fourth-floor flat at Dubrovnik House in Century Wharf around 2.15pm on March 2.
Cardiff Crown Court heard the alarm was raised when Ms James failed to to arrive at Gatwick Airport for a flight to Florida.
She had been due to move out of the flat after the holiday but neighbour Wade erupted into violence when she rejected his advances.
Her son Jason said: “My mother will not be around to see her grandchildren grow up. We as a family mourn her loss daily. My children have taken the loss of their grandmother badly. We have all had to take counselling. Mum in the weeks before her death was in good spirits, enjoying her new found freedom.
“To say we feel pain on a daily basis is an understatement. There is no sentence could be handed down that will bring my mother back. I hope some day he will have the decency to give us an explanation.”
No sexual assault had taken place but the court heard that there was a “sexual” motive to the murder.
Wade sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years
Wade was given a reduction in his sentence due to his guilty plea.
Although following his arrest, he answered “no comment”, once proceedings started, he indicated he would accept responsibility.
The only issue in the case related to his mental state at the time.
It was found there was no mental health element in the case.
The defendant pleaded guilty on September 5.
If there had been no mitigation, the minimum term would have been 26 years.
With mitigation, it was reduced to 21 years.
Wade was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.
The judge said to Ms James’ family: “This has been a harrowing ordeal for you to endure, yet you have conducted yourselves with restraint and dignity throughout.”
There are two points of mitigation
The judge said there are two points of mitigation:
1. Wade has no previous convictions
2. He pleaded guilty
1. Wade has no previous convictions
2. He pleaded guilty
Judge describes incident as 'brutal, sustained and ferocious attack'
The judge said he is not satisfied the defendant took the weapon to the scene.
He said it is more likely the defendant used a knife he found at the scene.
Mr Justice Williams also concluded the defendant did not go to Ms James’ flat with the intention to kill her.
He said the defendant formulated that intention at her flat.
He added: “This was a brutal, sustained, ferocious attack.”
The murder 'did not involve sexual conduct'
The judge said there was no evidence of sexual assault.
The court heard the defendant took at least one sex toy out of his case, because it was found under Ms James’ body.
The judge concluded the murder did not involve sexual conduct.
Defendant returned to the flat the next day to remove evidence
The court heard the defendant struck “heavy blows” that knocked Ms James to the ground, before cutting her throat.
The judge said the weapon used was likely to be a knife.
He added: “Following the assault Ms Jones was left lying on the ground. She must have died comparatively soon after. You left her for dead.”
The judge said the defendant returned to her flat the next day to remove the evidence.
He said: “You must have seen Ms James lying dead in the flat, yet you - callously in my judgement - continued hiding what you had done.”
Wade 'resorted to brutal and savage violence' after being faced with rejection
The court heard the defendant went to Ms James’ flat with a suitcase of “sex toys”.
The judge said he is satisfied the defendant knew she lived alone.
There is no evidence of forced entry to the flat, suggesting he persuaded her to let him in.
The judge said the defendant raised the prospect she would engage in sexual contact with him.
He added: “It was faced with rejection that you resorted to brutal and savage violence.”
Mr Justice Williams is now sentencing
Mr Justice Williams is now sentencing.
He said: “You killed Ms James by cutting her throat. By your actions, you have deprived her of her life and caused great anguish and distress to her family.
“There is only one sentence I can impose and that is life imprisonment.”
The video link to the defendant has been re-established
The clerk has just re-established the video link to the defendant, who is at HM Prison Long Lartin.
The defendant will shortly be sentenced
Mr Justice Wyn Williams is due to sentence Kris Wade at 3pm.
Sentencing adjourned until later
Mr Justice Williams will sentence the defendant at 3pm.
No evidence of mental health problems
The defence barrister accepted aggravating factors include the fact the incident took place in the victim’s own home, the use of the knife and the fact the defendant tried to clean up after the offence.
Mr Rees stressed his client had no previous convictions.
He said the best mitigation is the defendant’s guilty plea.
The court heard there is no evidence Wade suffers from any mental health problems.
There was an 'eruption of violence'
Mr Rees said: “The defendant did not go to Ms James’ house with the intention of killing her.
“Intention was formulated during the eruption of violence after Ms James rejected him.”
Defendant showing no emotion
The defendant can be seen on two screens at the front of the court.
He is at HM Prison Long Lartin and is appearing via video link.
He is sitting still at a table and is not showing any emotion.
Legal submissions being made
Defence barrister John Charles Rees QC is making legal submissions to Mr Justice Wyn Williams about the minimum term to be imposed.
Death occurred in a 'short period of time'
Mr Rees is now making submissions based on case law.
He said: “You cannot conclude this is a case where there was a prolonged period when Ms James was terrified and in pain.”
He submitted death occurred in a “short period of time”.
Important factors to consider
Mr Rees said the bondage items found in his client’s flat were “brand new” and had not been used.
The defence barrister said: “I am not trying to play down what happened.
“In our submission the factors we have raised are important matters for His Lordship to consider.”
Did not go with intention to kill her
Mr Rees said: “There may have been sexual motivation, but there was no sexual assault.”
He said the defendant did not go to Ms James’ flat with the intention to kill her.
He added there was an “eruption of violence” when Ms James rejected him.
The defence barrister said there was no evidence his client had gone to the flat armed with a knife and submitted he found it in the kitchen.
No restraint marks on the victim
The defence barrister said he does not dispute the sexual motive, but stressed no sexual assault took place.
Mr Rees said there was no evidence the ball gag or handcuff were used.
The court heard the pathologist did not find any restraint marks on the victim.
Claims it was not a 'sustained' attack
Mr Rees submitted it was not a “sustained” attack.
He said the victim was knocked to the floor and then fatally cut to the throat.
The defence barrister added: “I do not dispute intent to kill.”
Wade lived directly above the victim
Mr Rees said his client lived in the flat directly above Ms James.
Defendant had been drinking heavily at the time
He told the judge: “I am here to assist you to properly assess the length of the minimum term you must impose.
“My client has maintained throughout he has no recollection of what occurred.”
The court heard the defendant was drinking “very heavily” at the time.
Behaviour was 'abhorrent and inexcusable'
Defence barrister John Charles Rees QC will now put forward mitigation.
He said: “What happened to Ms James is a terrible tragedy for her and her family, especially her children.
“He hopes that his plea of guilty will help to bring some peace to her family and those affected by her death.
“They have behaved with remarkable dignity throughout.
“I am not here to in any way excuse his behaviour. It was abhorrent and inexcusable.
“Ms James was an innocent victim.”
Proceedings about to resume
The barristers have just come back into the court room.
Short adjournment before mitigation
There will be a 10-minute adjournment before John Charles Rees QC puts forward mitigation.
Family mourn her loss daily
Her son Jason continued:
My mother will not be around to see her grandchildren grow up. We as a family mourn her loss daily. My children have taken the loss of their grandmother badly. We have all had to take counselling. Mum in the weeks before her death was in good spirits, enjoying her new found freedom.To say we feel pain on a daily basis is an understatement. There is no sentence could be handed down that will bring my mother back. I hope some day he will have the decency to give us an explanation.”
Son's tribute to 'gentle and loving' mother
There are two victim personal statements in the case.
The first is from Ms James’ daughter, who does not want the statement to be read aloud in court.
The second is from Ms James’ son Jason. He is reading the statement out from the witness box.
He described the killing as “senseless and brutal”.
The court heard Ms James moved house after her marriage broke down.
He described his mother as “gentle and loving”.
He said it was a “sustained and barbaric attack”.
There was a 'significant degree of planning'
The Crown submit the defendant took a knife to the scene.
The prosecutor said the defendant had the intention to kill and there was a “significant degree of planning”.
Mr Lewis added it is an aggravating factor that the incident took place in Ms James’ own home.
No evidence of sexual assault
The court heard no evidence was found of sexual assault.
Bondage items found in flat
Police found bondage items, including a ball gag, mask and incontinence pads in his bedroom.
The Crown submit the defendant had an interest in sadomasochistic sex.
The prosecutor said the incident was sexually motivated.
The defendant was charged with murder on March 9.
DNA taken from suitcase
DNA was taken from the suitcase and found to match the DNA of Ms James.
A broken bracelet was found inside and also found to match the victim’s DNA. The beads matched those found by her body.
A blood-stained black handcuff was also found, containing her DNA.
Defendant appeared 'agitated' when police visited
Police visited the defendant at his flat on March 3 and said he appeared “agitated”.
The court heard he did not want to let them into his flat.
He was arrested on the afternoon of March 7 at his parents’ house in Church Village, Pontypridd.
Officers searched his flat in Dubrovnik House.
They found a large, black suitcase with evidence of blood stains.
It 'unclear' when Ms James died
The prosecutor said it is “unclear” exactly when Ms James died.
He said there is “little doubt” she would have died soon after her throat was cut.
She did not use her phone after the evening of February 26.
The neighbour became aware of police at the flat.
His partner asked him not to tell the police what he had seen, due to fear of repercussions from the defendant.
He later picked the defendant out at an ID parade.
Defendant seen with 'black bin bags'
As the neighbour watched, he saw the defendant emerge with a black bin bag in each hand.
He closed the door to her flat and walked towards the lift.
The neighbour decided to follow him. The lift showed he had gone to the basement.
The neighbour reported hearing “sobbing” but did not want to intrude.
Neighbours had heard 'shouting and screaming'
The police began an investigation. They spoke to Ms James’ neighbours.
One reported hearing a woman “shouting and screaming”.
He looked out of the spy hole and saw a man in the open doorway.
He described the man as about 6ft 1ins and “obese”. He thought he was in his 40s.
The injuries would have caused 'profuse bleeding'
The doctor said the injuries would have caused “profuse bleeding” and death.
The pathologist concluded death occurred at least a few days before.
He also found blunt trauma injuries, which could have been caused by punching.
The doctor gave the medical cause of death as cut throat.
Robbery was not the motive
The prosecutor said an item that could be a gag was found with her body.
Her laptop, mobile phone and handbag were found. The prosecutor said it does not seem robbery was the motive.
The prosecutor is now discussing the post-mortem.
Ms James was 5ft 4ins tall. There was heavy blood staining to the right side of her face. There were dark hairs stuck to the fingers of her hand. Her clothes were stained with blood.
Dr Jones, who carried out the post-mortem, said there was bruising all over her scalp, ear, forehead and jaw.
There was also a possible bite mark on her arm.
He said there was one “gaping wound” on her neck.
Defendant attempted to clean himself after attack
A small blood stain was found in the bathroom sink and another on the bathroom floor.
The Crown suggest the defendant attended to clean himself and, or the murder weapon.
The officers secured the scene and called for assistance.
The ambulance arrived at 2.30pm and confirmed Ms James was dead.
Police discovered Ms James in her flat
At 2.10pm on Wednesday, March 2, officers attended her flat. They found Ms James lying on her side. They could see a large pool of blood near her head and she appeared to be lifeless.
Officers found a suitcase near her body. The prosecutor said there were apparent blood stains on the wall near the suitcase.
The highest stain was 50cm from the floor. It appears she was murdered on or close to the ground.
Officers found an earring on the ground near her shoe. There were also beads from a broken bracelet.
No weapon was found by the officers.
Son last spoke to his mum on the Friday afternoon
She told officers she was due to be going on holiday for three weeks and move house on her return.
Ms James’ son Jason is an airline pilot and he last spoke to his mother on the Friday afternoon.
She had been due to fly at lunchtime on the Sunday. Her son was told she did not catch the flight or check into her Gatwick hotel the night before.
Police had visited her on another matter
On February 26, Ms James rang several friends, saying she was due to fly to Florida on the Sunday.
The court heard she started packing for her holiday on that afternoon.
Around 2pm police officers attended regarding complaints she had made about her former husband.
Looking forward to a holiday in Florida
Ms James had her hair cut on that afternoon. She told the hairdresser she was going on holiday to Florida and planning to move house when she got back.
Victim had been for lunch with a friend
The court has heard that on Thursday, February 25, Ms James was visited by a friend and went out for lunch in Cardiff Bay.
The victim did not know her attacker
The defendant is single and has no previous convictions.
Ms James and Wade did not know each other.
A 'brutal' attack
Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said: “It was, in our submission, a brutal attack in which a knife or other sharp object was used to inflict the injuries. The defendant has never offered an account or explanation.”
Case is ready to go
The prosecutor is now opening the case.
Video link being set up
The clerk is just setting up the video link. Wade is appearing via video link from HM Prison Longlartin. He is wearing a red T-shirt and sitting at a table.
There is a lot of interest in the case
The press bench is also filling up, with journalists covering the case for print, radio and television.
Public gallery filling up ahead of sentence
The case will be prosecuted by Paul Lewis QC and the defendant will be represented by John Charles Rees QC.
The courtroom is starting to fill up. There are about 10 people in the public gallery.
Appearing in court via video link
Our court reporter Liz Day is at Cardiff Crown Court this morning.
Kris Wade is due to be sentenced at 10.30am today.
He will appear before Mr Justice Wyn Williams via video link from HM Prison Long Lartin.
The 37-year-old from Hansen Court in Cardiff pleaded guilty on September 5 to the murder of Christine James, whose body was found at her apartment in Cardiff Bay in March.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/killer-who-slit-grandmothers-throat-11921326
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