A 58-year-old man who launched a violent knife attack against his former partner in Carmarthen Park before triggering a major cross-county manhunt has been sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment at Swansea Crown Court.
James McKenna, of Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, appeared for sentence on 9 October 2026 following an investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police into an attempted murder in broad daylight.
The court was told that emergency services were alerted at around 4:00pm on 29 January after McKenna attacked his ex-partner in Carmarthen Park. During the assault, McKenna repeatedly stabbed the woman, leaving her with multiple stab wounds and lacerations to her chest, arm, and hand.
Following the stabbing, McKenna fled the scene. Responding officers scouring the vicinity discovered a rucksack containing a blood-stained knife concealed in nearby allotments. Dyfed-Powys Police launched a widespread manhunt, deploying resources to track McKenna across south and west Wales. Detectives followed his movements into neighbouring Ceredigion, culminating in his arrest in Aberystwyth on 2 February. He was formally charged and remanded in custody on 4 February.
In pre-trial proceedings, McKenna admitted charges of wounding with intent and possessing a bladed article in a public place, but entered a not guilty plea to attempted murder. During a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court, the jury evaluated the evidence and unanimously rejected McKenna’s defence, finding him guilty of attempted murder.
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McKenna was convicted of:
- One count of attempted murder
- One count of wounding with intent
- One count of possessing a bladed article in a public place
Passing sentence on 9 October 2026, the Crown Court judge handed McKenna an immediate custodial term of 24 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder, alongside a concurrent 12-month custodial sentence for the bladed article offence.
Alongside the custodial sentence, the court ordered:
- An indefinite restraining order prohibiting any direct or indirect contact with the victim
- Formal post-custody licence supervision conditions upon release from prison
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