Man stabbed fiancee twice and refused to let her get medical treatment, court told (From The Argus)

Man stabbed fiancee twice and refused to let her get medical treatment, court told

4:43pm Monday 3rd December 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

This is the face of evil Richard McNally who stabbed his fiancée in the liver and then would not let her seek treatment.

Lewes Crown Court was told McNally punched, kicked and stabbed his 38-year-old partner after a row escalated.

One of the stab wounds penetrated her stomach which lacerated her liver causing a potentially life threatening injury.

The other wound struck her right knee which severed the ligament.

The court was told McNally and his fiancée argued after she came home from a night drinking with her friends.

After his savage attack McNally told her he would stitch up her wounds himself and if she told the police, he would find her and kill her.

After lying on the floor all night, the victim was finally able to the leave the flat at 11am the following day but she collapsed in the road. A passer-by helped her and an ambulance was called.

As she was about to undergo surgery in the hospital theatre, she told police who was responsible for inflicting her injuries and said McNally had assaulted her before in the past several times. He was located and arrested on May 3, two days after the attack on May 1 this year.

The 49-year-old, of Cornwallis Gardens, Hastings, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment.

He was jailed for life and told he will serve a minimum of five years.

After the case, Detective Constable Brett White of the Adult Protection Team said: "Justice has been reached in this case. The victim not only sustained life threatening injuries but was then prevented from seeking the medical treatment she urgently needed. The outcome of McNally's actions could have proved fatal.

"I would pay tribute to the courage the victim has shown and for her co-operation by supporting our investigation from the beginning to its conclusion which has contributed to the positive outcome of this case."