Jealous man stabbed partner so many times doctors gave up counting them all

A jealous man who stabbed his girlfriend 30 times in the deluded belief she was cheating on him has been jailed for life.

Jay Clark, 35, subjected 33-year-old Khalen Hunter to a brutal and sustained attack at their home in Enfield, north London, on April 25, 2020.

Brave neighbour Greg Ainsworth came to her rescue when he broke down the front door and intervened in what he described as ‘a scene from a horror film’.

Ms Hunter’s throat had been cut and she suffered multiple slash and stab wounds to her head, face and body, the Old Bailey heard.

She was flown by helicopter to the major trauma unit at the Royal London Hospital where surgeons saved her life.

Ms Hunter’s father wrote to the court to describe how she remains ‘a shadow of her former self’ as she continues to recover.

She was unable to give evidence during the trial or even provide a victim impact statement.

Judge Philip Katz KC told Clark: ‘You deliberately stabbed Khalen Hunter 30 times all over her body, intending to cause her serious injury.

‘The doctors gave up counting the many stab wounds to her face, back and neck. The fact that she did not die could be described as a miracle.’

Mr Ainsworth described the bloodbath at the flat as ‘a scene from a horror film’, the court heard. He was awarded a commendation for his extraordinary bravery in intervening and calling the police.

Jude Katz said: ‘He saw a lot of blood and you were standing over her holding a knife… in your other hand you were holding her hair.

‘He saw you dragging Khalen Hunter backward along the floor as he repeatedly asked you what you were doing and told you to stop.

‘In spite of not being religious, you were speaking about God and his plan. Asking officers if they were the devil and if you were dead.’

Ms Hunter was trying to leave the toxic relationship with Clark in the days leading up to the attack.

Judge Katz said: ‘I am sure you knew there were problems in your relationship and your use of violence was a massive escalation of the situation.’

Clark had been having thoughts that Khalen may be having an affair and it was not the first time he had doubted the loyalty of a partner.

‘You are a person who, in the context of romantic partners, was prone to unreasonable jealous feelings,’ the judge added.

‘Sadly it is not uncommon for jealous men of previous good character to use violence towards women.’

Clark, of Enfield, denied but was convicted by the jury of attempted murder.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.

Clark, who was receiving psychiatric treatment at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, returned to hospital to await his transfer to prison.

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