Raymond O’Connell, 63, from Penarth is being sentenced for murdering 54-year-old Lynne Braund
Raymond O'Connell has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years and four months for the murder of Lynne Braund.
Ms Braund, 54, died after an assault at a house in Barry and died in hospital from her critical injuries.
South Wales Police were called to a “serious assault” on Glanmor Crescent in Barry at 9.15pm on Thursday, August 4.
Ms Braund was rushed to hospital, where officers confirmed she was in a “critical condition”.
The defendant, 63, from Penarth , appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on August 6 and was initially charged with attempted murder.
Ms Braund later died of her injuries in Swansea’s Morriston Hospital.
Judge Eleri Rees told O'Connell: “There was an intention here to cause serious bodily harm rather than kill.
“But you left the scene as quickly as you could.
“The most significant mitigation on your part is your guilty plea.”
Michael Mather-Leos QC, for the defence, said: “This was a horrible thing to do to somebody and words cannot express the suffering those injuries must have caused.
“There’s an appalling history. This woman has obviously had a very bad time in the hands of Raymond O’Connell.
“He has faced up to his responsibility.
“The likelihood is he will spend the rest of his days incarcerated. He is unlikely to be a free man ever again.
“He is tormented by it but one cannot turn the clock back. He acknowledges his behaviour has been bad and has been a volatile relationship brought about by him.”
Judge Rees said: “You had been in a relationship. You were violent with her.
“In 1990 there was a house fire in which her 18 month old daughter died.
“That ended her marriage and she started to drink heavily.
“She had a great fear of fire.
“Her relationship with you was characterised with domestic violence.
“The restraining order failed to ensure there was separation.
“On August 4 at around 9pm you set her on fire.
“In her first account to the officer she said you pushed her, told her you were going to kill her, squirted her and set her alight.
“You did nothing to help her.
“She died as a direct consequence of the burns.
“You heard the statement of her son who wrote movingly about his mother.
“You’re now 63 years of age.
“15 of your offences were offences of violence.”
How the sentencing unfolded:KEY EVENTS
KEY EVENT
O’Connell sentenced
O’Connell has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years and four months in prison.
Intention to cause harm
Judge Eleri Rees said: “There was an intention here to cause serious bodily harm rather than kill.
“But you left the scene as quickly as you could.
“The most significant mitigation on your part is your guilty plea.”
Judge lists a violent history
Judge Eleri Rees said: “Today you pleaded guilty to the murder of Lynne Braund.
“You had been in a relationship.
“You were violent with her.
“In 1990 there was a house fire in which her 18 month old daughter died.
“That ended her marriage and she started to drink heavily.
“She had a great fear of fire.
“Her relationship with you was characterised with domestic violence.
“The restraining order failed to ensure there was separation.
“On August 4 at around 9pm you set her on fire.
“In her first account to the officer she said you pushed her, told her you were going to kill her, squirted her and set her alight.
“You did nothing to help her.
“She died as a direct consequence of the burns.
“You heard the statement of her son who wrote movingly about his mother.
“You’re now 63 years of age.
“15 of your offences were offences of violence.”
'A horrible thing to do'
Michael Mather-Leos QC, for the defence, said: “This was a horrible thing to do to somebody and words cannot express the suffering those injuries must have caused.
“There’s an appalling history. This woman has obviously had a very bad time in the hands of Raymond O’Connell.
“He has faced up to his responsibility.
“The likelihood is he will spend the rest of his days incarcerated. He is unlikely to be a free man ever again.
“He is tormented by it but one cannot turn the clock back. He acknowledges his behaviour has been bad and has been a volatile relationship brought about by him.”
Previous convictions
O’Connell has 22 previous convictions, including assaults occasioning ABH, assaulting police, wounding with intent.
He previously assaulted Ms Braund - punched and kicked her
He also attacked her in the street.
In 2012 he was convicted of ABH on Ms Braund after he punched her to the face, squeezed her throat and cut her lip.
He received a three-year sentence.
At the time of the offence there was a restraining order in place.
Son's moving statement
Mr Wilson is reading the victim personal statement from her son, Kyle: “My mother was all I had in my life.
“Since she was brutally taken from me I have suffered greatly.
“I often blame myself for what happened because I moved out five days before.
“No sentence will ever be long enough. It will never bring my mum back.”
'Drinking in the morning'
Mr Wilson said: “O’Connell said he lived in Penarth, she lived in Barry. Things hadn’t been going well.
“They had both been drinking in the morning. He said he turned round and showed her what he was cooking and caught her with it.
“He threw some fluid from a tin on the table, he set fire. He saw a small flame and he left.
“He thought he would put it out with her hand.
“He did not know his actions would cause more than a small flame.
“He said he may have said he wanted to kill her but that would have been in the heat of the moment.”
Intensive care
Her burns covered 20% of her body. She was in intensive care but had a sudden deterioration and she died.
A postmortem concluded she quickly developed multiple organ failure and probably sepsis.
A postmortem concluded she quickly developed multiple organ failure and probably sepsis.
Extent of burns
Mr Wilson said a paramedic described the burns as 20-25% burns with second and third degree burns.
'Burns were awful' - police officer
He continued: “Another officer noted further burning on the back of her legs.
“The officer said the burns were awful. She was taken to resuscitation room and was attached to a ventilator.”
Police who arrived said her hair was burnt, her face was charred. The injuries continued down to her leg.
Mr Wilson said: “She said Ray had done this to her. She said he pushed her onto the floor, squirted lighter fluid all over her from a blue container and then set her alight.
Mr Wilson said: “She said Ray had done this to her. She said he pushed her onto the floor, squirted lighter fluid all over her from a blue container and then set her alight.
“Because of her injuries the officer said she found it difficult to give a detailed description of what happened.”
Witness statement
Mr Wilson added: “Another witness saw the deceased and asked her who did it.
“Ms Braund said ‘who do you f**** think’.
“She said her hair was completely burnt, her chest and back was red. Her bra was melted. Her eyebrows had gone.
“Ms Braund said ‘he set me alight’.”
'Horrific'
Mr Wilson said: “One of the first witnesses, Anthony Dougley, lived above the deceased. He heard raised voices at around 9pm and heard her call ‘help me’.
“Then he heard a smoke alarm from her flat.
“He saw a man ‘power walking’ away and his description matched O’Connell.
“He went downstairs and banged on the front door. The deceased answered. She was only in her bra and knickers.
“She said ‘he poured petrol on me and set fire to me’.”
The man said it was horrific.
The man said it was horrific.
Relationship 'characterised by domestic violence'
Prosecutor James Wilson said: “On August 4 he poured fluid onto Ms Braund and set it on fire.
“Her daughter died in a fire in 1990. That child was 18 months old.
“He knew that as a result she had a fear of fire.
“She was in an induced coma and died. Cause of death was a direct consequence of the burns.
“He was her ex-partner and had been in a relationship for 17 years. It was characterised by domestic violence.”
Witness statement
The judge is discussing a witness statement with prosecutor James Wilson. The statement or the content of the statement has not been read out.
Guilty plea
He has pleaded guilty to murdering Lynne Braund on August 14.
Defendant arrives
O’Connell has just arrived in the dock. He’s wearing a grey jumper.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/live-updates-man-sentenced-murdering-12353344
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