A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in prison for fatally stabbing his former partner during a mediation session at a court. Paul Gary Turner, aged 43, was convicted of murdering Sarah Thomas, the mother of his two children, at a Supreme Court trial. The incident occurred in December 2016 while they were in court to discuss a financial claim made by Turner against Ms. Thomas.
Turner unexpectedly brandished a kitchen knife, hidden in a file, and launched a vicious attack on his estranged partner, inflicting six stab wounds that resulted in her death, including severing her carotid artery. The prosecution emphasized Turner’s deliberate choice of a public setting to maximize the impact of his violent act, portraying it as a premeditated public statement.
The tragic event unfolded at the Joondalup courthouse in Perth, Australia, with a court officer present. CCTV footage captured Turner before and after the attack, showing his demeanor during the incident. It was revealed that Turner had received training in combat knife skills in the past, including techniques targeting vital arteries for lethal outcomes.
During his trial, Turner claimed memory loss regarding the incident, attributing it to dissociative seizures stemming from a head injury sustained years prior. Despite the defense presenting the option of Turner not being mentally sound during the attack, the jury rejected this and found him guilty of murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years.
In a separate incident, Michael James, aged 45, fatally stabbed Bradley Hollis, aged 35, with a kitchen knife during a confrontation at his residence in March 2025. The altercation arose due to jealousy over James’ ex-girlfriend, Zara Tolley, who had started a relationship with Hollis. James, who shared the house with Tolley, attacked Hollis while James’ children were asleep upstairs.
James was sentenced to 14 years in prison for manslaughter and possessing a bladed weapon in public. Additionally, he admitted to physically assaulting Tolley prior to the fatal stabbing of Hollis.