2014: JAILED: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUFFERER WHO STABBED ESTRANGED WIFE SIX TIMES IN FARNWORTH BEFORE TURNING KNIFE ON HIMSELF
A man with multiple sclerosis who attacked his estranged wife by stabbing her six times in Farnworth before turning the blade on himself has been sentenced to prison.William Berry, residing on Masefield Road in Little Lever, confronted his wife outside her place of work after falsely believing she intended to push forward with selling his house.
Following her refusal to engage with him, he assaulted her at a bus stop, wielding a kitchen knife to inflict six wounds.
The incident left Mrs Berry with serious injuries and led to her developing post-traumatic stress disorder, which made her fearful of leaving the house and unable to handle knives.
Berry then traveled approximately three miles on his mobility scooter to St James’ High School, where he stabbed himself twice in the abdomen.
Police apprehended him in a nearby garden after threatening him with a taser.
He pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm with intent and received a prison sentence of two years and eight months.
The judge took into account Berry’s disabilities and reduced the original sentence from five years to four, including credit for his guilty plea.
He is expected to serve half of this sentence on licence.
Court reports mentioned Berry’s statement expressing his desire to take his own life in front of his wife and his mistaken belief that she was attempting to force the sale of their home.
As a result of the attack, Mrs Berry also suffered nerve damage and emotional trauma.
