Luke Smaje, identifiable by his black cap in the recording, assaulted Jack Shaw who was dressed in a blue top, using a blade.
CCTV footage captured the terrifying moment a thug knifed a man in a busy pub in Wales on Christmas Eve. Luke Smaje, identifiable by his black cap in the recording, assaulted Jack Shaw who was dressed in a blue top, using a blade.
Mr Shaw suffered two abdominal injuries including one that penetrated his liver. He was convinced he might not survive and required hospital treatment.
The video shows a security guard removing Smaje from The Broad Oak pub in Connah’s Quay. Officers subsequently apprehended him at his residence where a folding knife was found on a window sill. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
On Monday Mold Crown Court heard it remained uncertain whether this was the weapon employed in the attack. Smaje, of Broad Oak View, Northop Hall, and Mr Shaw had both previously been romantically involved with the same woman, reports North Wales Live.
The court was told the defendant stabbedMr Shaw in a “revenge” assault. The victim, a martial arts fighter, sustained liver injuries in the incident and was rushed to hospital. He informed his mother he believed he might die during surgery, telling her “sorry for ruining Christmas”.
Smaje, 23, pleaded guilt at Mold Crown Court to wounding and possessing a knife in a public place. He was on the verge of being sentenced when the prosecutor revealed she had just received an email stating Mr Shaw was “waiting to find out if he is going to lose his bowels”.
When the prosecutor mentioned receiving an email regarding Mr Shaw awaiting his medical update Judge Timothy Petts told the court that given how rapidly the case had progressed through the courts and the guilty pleas entered: “It seems that the prosecution has not quite caught up with the medical evidence.”
He said he was reluctant to “over sentence” based on a “potentially unreliable email” whilst equally not wanting to “under sentence”. He adjourned until Thursday.
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
