A 20-year-old man from Brighton has been jailed for life for the attempted murder of two nurses.
Connah Smith, of Vernon Terrace, Brighton, inflicted a seven-hour ordeal on the two young women which was described as “like something out of a horror movie”.
He denied the charges but was convicted by a jury at Lewes Crown Court.
Today (Tuesday 11 November) he was sent to prison by the recorder of Brighton and Hove, Judge Shani Barnes.
Smith had already pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, threats to kill and false imprisonment.
His life sentence is for 30 years, with a requirement that he serve a minimum of 15 years. It was imposed as a sentence covering all the offences.
Smith repeatedly stabbed and threatened to kill two nurses, Gabby Price and Megan Parson, at their home in Dean Street, Brighton, on Saturday 29 March.
He had a hammer, knives, imitation firearm, a jerry can full of petrol, matches and gaffer tape in a rucksack when he went to their home.
He asked the two young women how they wanted to die before he stabbed them the head, neck and body a number of times.
He kept telling them that they were going to be killed and he held them down under water in the bath.
He later forced them to lie on a bed, where he doused them in petrol and threw lit matches at them.
The girls only managed to get away when one claimed to have suffered a miscarriage.
Detective Inspector Mick Jones said: “I would like to thank the two victims for the courage they have shown during this trial.
“Their evidence has led to the conviction of Smith.
“He subjected them to an horrendous ordeal over a seven-hour period which was like something out of a horror movie.
“Smith is an extremely dangerous individual, the level of the danger he poses having been reflected in the sentence he has received today.”
How can people avoid this happening to them ?
What was his motive?
Connah has been let down by the British Justice System. He did not try and kill these women for goodness sake. If you have nine hours to play with then there is plenty of time to kill at least one of the women.
You don’t call an ambulance for a fake miscarriage then lrave the premises with them both left alive if you want to kill them
Surely others can see that logic too?
He came out with a lot of verbal nosense whilst under the influence of alcohol but he was all mouth and a mess and being sick all over the place
There is a lot more to this incident than ptople know about at this moment in time.
Sorry under the influence of alcohol? All blood tests showed negative for any type of drug or alcohol. I’ll think you’ll find you are talking a load of bollocks.
Every single minute he spends behind bars he deserves.
You are a complete and utter moron !!!!!!
How would you feel if this was done to you ????????
I went to school with this piece of shit. I know him personally and he deserves every second of jail time and more.
If you know so much about it then why didn’t his defence team call you as a witness?
Wtf are you on!?… Didn’t intend to kill? No he just tied them up an terrorfied them for seven hours! Cutting,stabbing an burning them and put them through an event in their lives they probably will never get over!.
Sometimes you have to admit it’s not about society, it’s just some people are born to do evil things, an I’m sick of people like U L WINCHESTER of trying to Turn the offend ants of carrying out violent and life changing crimes to innocent people, into victims!
No matter what background ur from u know between right an wrong! And he defiantly knew what he was doing was wrong so he deserves everything he gets! My only problem with the justice system is that the max he can get is not at the end of a rope!
Luke, you complete idiot have you read the transcripts like I have? NO you haven’t so SHUT your ignorant mouth
Why are the women still alive?
Why are the women not maimed?
Why don’t they have injuries?
Why have the women been out partying since the trial?
Why didn’t Connah at least seriously injury them after 9 hours of uninterruption?
Why why why why are the girls still alive?
Fake miscarruage????? Load if rubbish.
Anyone who wants to dispute this?
Bring it on?
Why Why Why are they alive? That is the question!!! Because he didn’t want them dead for Christ sake.
If you are his mum and you are defending him, that’s why he did it. Look in the mirror… for a very long time
I will get the truth out there even if I have to sell my house to pay for all the legal fees. The truth has to be told.
I want to tell the truth now but I can’t because the police keep threatening to arrest he so my hands and tongue are tied. I will cut through the red tape eventually.
As for fact, the girls gave NO injuries whatsoever………
Sorry to the victims. I was in prison with this person, and got to know him. He seemed like a genuinely nice person, very polite. He was vague about what he was in for so I didn’t ask. After my release, and after learning about his crime, I can tell you that Conah is a very dangerous, manipulative individual. He fooled me into believing he was a good person, may he rot in jail!!