Barmaid stabbed 40 times in vicious knife assault 'named boyfriend as her attacker in deathbed testimony'

Joanna Hall suffered multiple stab and slash wounds in the attack and died in hospital from her injuries 19 days later

Barmaid Joanna Hall, left, and police at the scene of the stabbing in Tenby

A barmaid who died 19 days after being stabbed 40 times in a brutal attack at her home named her boyfriend as her attacker in two searate deathbed testimonies, a jury has heard.

Joanna Hall, 35, of Tenby, west Wales, suffered multiple stab and slash wounds in the attack and died in hospital from her injuries 19 days later. One wound went so deep it sliced a 4-inch long gash in her liver.

Her boyfriend Steven Daniel Williams, 30, also of Tenby, is on trial at Swansea crown court where he denies murdering her.

Barmaid Ms Hall named Williams as her attacker in two separate death bed testimonies while in hospital, the jury heard.

She claimed he waited hours before dialling 999, saying to her "will you just die?" as she bled from her injuries.

She also told a paramedic that Williams was the man who had stabbed her as she was airlifted to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, after the attack which happened in her town centre flat in the early hours of March 16 last year.

Pathologist Dr John Williams said Ms Hall's injuries included wounds to the breasts, stabs in the chest which went between ribs, stabs in the shoulders and the thighs.

There were two injuries to the liver, the larger one 9.5 cms, (3.7 ins) long.

Previously the jury heard that boyfriend Williams claimed an unknown knifeman must have attacked Ms Hall while he went out to buy cigarettes.

He called the emergency services, saying he had found her after the attack.

Police examination of text messages on Ms Hall's mobile phone on the evening before the attack indicate she was upset with Williams and they had argued.

In the early hours of the morning of the attack a neighbour of Ms Hall told police she heard an argument in the victim's flat so loud she had to put in ear plugs to block out the noise.

The jury has also previously seen CCTV footage of Williams buying whisky at a garage close to the flat.

Hours later he is alleged to have called at the flat in a drunken state and used a knife from the kitchen to attack Ms Hall.


Personal Injury  

Injured in an accident at work?

Find out if you can claim in 30 seconds



Compare the latest poker bonuses

Get top poker tips and sign up online