Life Sentence Issued for Murder and Attempted Murder

Kenneth Walker has received a life sentence, with a minimum term of 32 years, for murder after fatally stabbing another man in an incident described as a “despicable, senseless act of violence”. Following a trial at Winchester Crown Court, Walker was found guilty on 26 November of killing Craig Laurie, 33. Mr. Laurie was discovered with fatal stab wounds at Walker’s property on Tasmania Close on Sunday, May 12, shortly before 21:00 BST. Walker also stabbed Craig Laurie’s brother, Scott, from Newbury, who survived the assault. During the trial, jurors heard that Walker had armed himself with a knife and intentionally delivered a fatal stab wound to Mr. Laurie’s chest after Mr. Laurie and his brother, Scott, arrived at Walker’s address in Popley. Scott Laurie, 36, also from Newbury, sustained serious but non-life-threatening stab injuries and required hospital treatment. Walker received a sentence of life imprisonment for murder, with a minimum term set at 32 years and 165 days. He was also sentenced to 22 years for attempted murder. Both of these sentences are to be served concurrently. Jane Byrne, 52, of Egerton Drive, identified as Walker’s girlfriend, also received a 30-month jail sentence for assisting an offender and a 12-month sentence for perverting the course of justice. The court was informed that she intentionally tried to impede the investigation by cleaning the crime scene and hiding evidence. These sentences will also be served concurrently. Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Watson commented: “Kenneth Walker murdered Craig and attempted to do the same to his brother Scott in a despicable and senseless act of violence, which resulted in a much-loved father losing his life. I hope that today’s sentence helps Craig’s family rebuild their lives and that they are able to feel a small sense of comfort knowing that Kenneth Walker will spend a long time in prison for what he has done.” Information regarding BBC Oxfordshire’s presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram is available. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC states it is not accountable for the content of external websites and provides details on its approach to external linking.