A student who stabbed a grandmother 29 times in a ‘vicious and senseless’ attack after consuming ‘high potency’ skunk alcohol and cannabis has been jailed for life.
Alexander Carr, 33, was arrested in north London weeks after the ‘horrifying’ murder of his friend Michelle Hanson, 47, at her home in Sunderland last December following a manhunt in national scale.
The mother-of-five’s heartbroken sister Angela Kelly told Newcastle Crown Court: ‘She said he was one of the good guys. How wrong she was.
Carr pleaded guilty to murder and was jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 19 years.
The court heard he knew alcohol and drugs were taking a serious toll on his mental health but got drunk anyway that night before inflicting terrifying violence on Ms Hanson.
Daffyd Enoch KC, prosecuting, said the victim was stabbed multiple times in the neck, Carr used a knife on her at least 29 times and had numerous bruises around her body.
Pieces of a broken plate were found in her hair.
After escaping through the bathroom window, Carr fled to London and was found weeks later living in a tent near Upper Holloway station.
When police arrested him after a struggle in which they used a Taser, the powerfully built 33-year-old was found to have a commando knife with him.
Carr had a troubled childhood, has a long history of violence and was diagnosed with personality disorders and the court was told it was somewhat ‘remarkable’ that he got a place at university.
Psychiatrists agreed that he was not suffering from a psychotic illness at the time of the murder.
Ms Hanson, who lived in an upstairs flat in Brady Street, Sunderland, had been paid that day and bought a bottle of vodka and some takeaway food.
A witness, who cannot be named, saw Carr sitting with her that night and later described him as “crazy” and “talking in funny accents”.
The witness was reassured that Mrs Hanson was fine and left, only to return the next day to find her dead in a pool of blood.
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said Carr had previously been diagnosed with personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act when he was older. young.
Mr Lumley said Carr wrote to the judge and admitted: ‘I knew my mental health issues were getting worse and I wish I had tried to seek more help, rather than self-medicate with the excessive drugs and alcohol.”
Judge Paul Sloan said Carr initially lied to psychiatrists but eventually admitted he had smoked skunk – “which has strong potency” – that night.
“You became increasingly anxious and paranoid and thought you were about to be hurt,” he said.
“I have no doubt that the main reason for your paranoia was your willful consumption of skunk in combination with alcohol.
“Your paranoia culminated in a brutal attack on Mrs. Hanson.”
Ms Hanson’s daughter, Shannon Brown, read an emotional victim impact statement in court, saying: ‘My mum was caught up in such a vicious and senseless attack.
“We believe his final moments would have been spent in fear.
“To think that she welcomed this evil person into her home as a friend is unbearable.
“He took advantage of a vulnerable, kind and loving woman.
“It’s horrible to know that he towered over her in size and strength and that my mother was helpless.”
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