A man has been jailed today (Wednesday) for attacking his wife with a bow and arrows and stabbing her six times in a frenzied attack at their home.
Stephen Carr, aged 57, was found guilty of attempted murder at their home in Strensall.
His wife pleaded for her life and was stabbed while she made a 999 call to police.
Carr violently attacked his wife first with a compound bow and then with a kitchen knife and told her: “You are dying tonight.”
He chasing her round their home with a bow and arrow. Aiming straight at her, she managed to shut a door just in time and he fired the arrow into it.
The victim managed to break a number of the arrows to prevent him using them on her.
She then fled to the bedroom and hid under the duvet where Carr fired three shots with the unbroken arrows that he managed to find.
At this point, the victim had managed to call 999, telling police: “He’s got a bow, he’s got a compound bow… Don’t kill me Steve please. Do not kill me you c**t. Please! Think of your mum.”
Carr took a kitchen knife, plunging it six times in her back while she laid in a foetal position on the floor. The victim screamed to the police call taker, telling them what had happened and asking for urgent help.
He then retreated to his garden shed, where he was later discovered by police.
He sent a WhatsApp message to his wife after the brutal assault in which he said: “I’m glad I didn’t do what I wanted to do. I did say you were pushing me to far [sic]. My bag [sic] sorry.”
Emergency surgery
The victim was treated at the scene by police, before paramedics rushed her to Leeds General Infirmary where she had surgery. She spent a number of days in hospital before she was able to be sent home.
Detectives from North Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Team led an extensive investigation which explored Carr’s intentions and actions that day.
Carr was interviewed and when presented with the evidence, he failed to provide any account for the sustained and repeated attack on his defenceless wife.
The case went to court and Carr, who had been remanded in custody since his arrest, pleaded guilty to the alternative offence of causing grievous bodily harm but denied attempted murder.
At his trial, which concluded at Leeds Crown Court on 2 June, Carr did eventually give evidence about his recollection of events, where he told the court he followed his wife around the house drawing the bow to scare her into leaving him alone, as he stated she was controlling him.
He suggested that this was a build-up of pressure of working full time, his caring responsibilities for his elderly mother and his dependence on alcohol.
He said he never intended to kill his wife and that if he wanted to kill her with the bow, his skills as an archer would allow him to do so.
When asked about the repeated use of a knife causing six significant stab wounds to her back, Carr suggested he had “blacked out”.
The prosecution was able to show that this violent attack with multiple weapons was by someone who was overwhelmed, drunk and angry, and developed an intention to kill his wife having lost all ability of self-control.
The jury found Carr guilty of attempted murder and he was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to 17 years in prison today (Wednesday).
‘Hard to imagine the terror’
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove said: “Domestic violence takes many forms – the fact Carr has ultimately been jailed for attempted murder underlines just how serious incidents can be.
“It’s hard to imagine the terror the victim felt being shot at with a bow and arrows, then set on with a knife by her own husband.
“This was also a harrowing incident for our officers and control room staff who responded to the 999 call, and their professionalism ensured Carr was promptly located and arrested before anything further could happen.
“While we apply high levels of discretion when we deal with domestic violence, it’s also important we raise awareness and highlight the work we do to tackle it, so people have the confidence to come forward.”
He said the case was a prime example of how domestic violence can rapidly escalate, so “don’t wait until it’s too late”.
Det Chief Insp Sygrove added: “There’s a range of support available to victims, including IDAS which helps people affected by domestic abuse and violence. You can also utilise Claire’s Law, which enables us to release information about any previous history of violence or abuse a person might have.
“If you or someone you know needs help, please report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s happening now, or find out more about the support available by visiting idas.org.uk”
