Walter Kanhukamwe (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 2 hours ago
A 24-year-old man has been handed an extended prison sentence after he crossed a street and knifed a stranger who was standing outside his own home in Cardiff.
Walter Kanhukamwe watched Karl Watkins from a short distance for around half an hour before launching the unprovoked assault in the early hours of June 9 last year.
The attack
Mr Watkins was on his doorstep at around 1.30am, flying a drone as part of a personal hobby, when Kanhukamwe approached without warning.
The defendant opened the garden gate, walked up the stairs and lunged at Mr Watkins with a kitchen knife, striking him in the chest. The wound was superficial but broke the skin. Kanhukamwe then dropped the blade and fled the scene.
Criminal history
Cardiff Crown Court heard Kanhukamwe, of Heol Muston, Ely, was on immigration bail at the time of the assault. He has 11 previous convictions including possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article, and animal cruelty offences.
He was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.
Victim’s account
Prosecutor Laurence Jones read a victim personal statement from Mr Watkins to the court. He said: “Since the crime I’ve become hypervigilant and when commuting to work I constantly anticipate an assault. Every young black male puts me on edge but I wasn’t like this prior and I hate feeling like this.
“I don’t feel in control of myself, my sleep is nonexistent and I’m considering going to the doctors about it and confiding in friends and family. The physical effects of the injury were minor, I had a small puncture wound, but the knife still broke my skin. I have sleepless nights about how close he came to seriously injuring me.
“I haven’t socialised since the incident, I used to enjoy going with friends and family but now I struggle to go out. I also enjoy flying my drone but I’ve not done that since the incident. I feel everyone is going to stab me.”
Mitigation and sentencing
David Pinnell, in mitigation, told the court his client was still a young man and was immature, and also referred to the offence being an “attempt” at causing grievous bodily harm. The court also heard the defendant has suffered from mental health issues.
Recorder Greg Bull KC told Kanhukamwe: “You inflicted significant psychological harm on Mr Watkins, and you did not have the sense to plead guilty to this offence.”
Kanhukamwe was found to be a dangerous offender and was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of three years.
