A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison for fatally stabbing his ex-partner during a court hearing, displaying extreme violence. Paul Gary Turner, aged 43, was convicted of murdering Sarah Thomas, a 33-year-old mother of their two children, in December 2016. The tragic incident occurred during a mediation session while they were in a legal dispute over custody of their seven-year-old and four-year-old kids. Turner unexpectedly brandished a kitchen knife, hidden in a file, and viciously attacked Thomas, stabbing her six times, resulting in her death from a severed carotid artery.
Prosecutor James Mactaggart highlighted Turner’s deliberate choice of a public venue to maximize the impact of his violent act, emphasizing the shocking nature of the crime. The brutal event unfolded at the Joondalup courthouse in Perth, Australia, where a court officer was present during the tragic incident. Turner, captured on CCTV footage, initially entered the meeting calmly but later emerged, visibly distressed and collapsed on the floor.
The court revealed that Turner had received training in lethal knife skills in the past, including targeting major arteries to cause harm. Despite claiming memory loss during the trial and attributing it to previous head injuries, the jury rejected Turner’s plea of being mentally unstable at the time of the attack and convicted him of murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years.
In a separate incident, Michael James, 45, was arrested for fatally stabbing Bradley Hollis, 35, with a kitchen knife in 2025 following a confrontation at James’ residence. The altercation arose from jealousy towards Hollis, who was romantically involved with James’ ex-girlfriend, Zara Tolley. James, sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter and other charges, including assault against Tolley, committed the violent act while his children were asleep in the house.
The sentencing of these individuals comes as a reminder of the severe consequences of such violent actions and the importance of upholding justice in cases of domestic disputes turned deadly.