Rugby man jailed for attempted murder after two-knife attack...

[dutchman]

Jovan Sleem sentenced to more than 20 years for after been branded a dangerous offender



A man who plunged a knife into another man’s heart has been sentenced to more than 20 years behind bars.

Jovan Sleem had denied the attempted murder of Wayne Bevan, who almost died as a result of his injury, but was found guilty by a jury at Warwick Crown Court last month.

Part of his defence against his conviction was that he had intended to "put one" in the victim's shoulder, but accidentally hit his heart.

And after an adjournment for a report to be prepared on him, a judge ruled that Sleem, who was also convicted of wounding Sebastian Gawkiewicz with intent, was a dangerous offender.

Sleem, of Seathwaite, Brownsover, Rugby, was given an extended sentence of 21 years in jail, of which he will have to serve 14 years before the Parole Board will consider his release.

With him in the dock was Clifford Kessna, 47, of Pickard Close, Rugby, who was cleared of attempted murder, but was found guilty of wounding Mr Gawkiewicz with intent and affray.

Kessna was jailed for 12 years, of which he will have to serve eight years before he is released on licence.

Jailing the two men, Judge Peter Cooke said: “This incident did not begin with Wayne Bevan brandishing the very large knife/machete he returned with.

“It began with him leaving the odd block to go round to the even block to see [a friend] to cadge a cigarette from him.

“It was after he had been threatened that he armed himself, so he was not the author of that day’s events, he was reacting in alarm to the hostile behaviour you two had shown.

“The jury found that the attack on Sebastian Gawkiewicz was carried out with the intention to inflict really serious injury, rather than to kill him – but it was an attack which resulted in life-threatening injuries.

“It was an attack in which both of you took part, with you Mr Sleem inflicting the injury with one of two knives you took to the scene.

“Sleem, the jury unanimously found that the stab which punctured Wayne Bevan’s heart was delivered with the intent that it should prove fatal. That stabbing was gratuitous and vicious.

“But for prompt medical attention he too would have died. In fact the pathologist expressed surprise that he had survived, and having stabbed him, you left him to die and walked off to resume your attack on Sebastian Gawkiewicz.”