Alex Tye jailed for life for Benhall attempted murder

Mr Justice Baker said the victim’s injuries were “nothing less than catastrophic” and the fact she didn’t die had been a matter of chance.

He imposed a life sentence on 17-year-old cannabis addict Alex Tye of which he will have to serve a minimum of twelve and a half years before he can be considered for early release by the parole board.

MORE: First picture of Alex Tye released by police

Ipswich Crown Court heard on Thursday that Tye blamed the victim for the break up of his relationship with his girlfriend and left her for dead in the park in Benhall in October last year.

Forensics at the scene in Benhall last October. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Before leaving the girl face down in the park, bleeding from her injuries and unable to move, Tye took her phone and dumped it in a nearby ford before driving home.

The victim lay in the park screaming for help and drifting in an out of consciousness for four hours until she was discovered by a dog walker shortly after 6am on October 2.

The court heard she had pretended to be dead so that Tye wouldn’t continue the attack and as he walked away he had called her name to see if she was still alive.

Mr Justice Baker said  Tye had run up behind the victim and stabbed her and when she asked him what had happened as she lay on the ground with no feeling in her legs he had feigned ignorance and asked her what had happened.

A police cordon at the time in Benhall. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Police remained at the scene following the incident in October. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

When she felt him stabbing her neck and begged him to stop he had told her to “stop making it so difficult”.

The judge said Tye had taken the knife to the scene intending to kill the victim and had left the scene believing he’d accomplished his aim. 

Riel Karmy-Jones KC, prosecuting, said the victim had had feelings for Tye and this had become an “inconvenience” to him as it had caused problems with his girlfriend.

At one stage Tye’s girlfriend had contacted the victim and described her as “pathetic” and accused her of “trying it on” with Tye.

The court heard that prior to the attacks Tye had carried out a variety of searches in the internet for topics such as the “Worst place to be stabbed”, “How long does it take to die from a stab wound to the stomach?". 

He’d also told his former girlfriend that he would kill for her.

On the night of the attack on the victim he told his girlfriend he missed her a lot and added; “ I need to put this right and I know it’s going to need something big”.

On the night of the attack he had asked the victim to meet him in the park but she had felt something wasn’t right and had jokingly asked if he was going to kill her.

The court heard Tye was addicted to cannabis and smoked it two or three times a day.

Tye, of Low Road, Friston, admitted attempted murder and possession of a knife.

Mr Justice Baker agreed to an application to lift an order banning the publication of his name.

The court heard that as a result of the attack the victim had been left paralysed from the chest down and had limited movement in her arms and hands.

In a victim statement she said she couldn’t understand why Tye wanted to kill her and couldn’t work out what she had done wrong.

She said that while she waited for help to arrive after the attack she had been determined not to die as that would have meant Tye had won.

She said she was determined to be as independent as possible in the future and added: “ I won’t let him beat me”.

In a statement the victim’s mother described the devastating effect the attack had had on her family and her “beautiful, strong” daughter who had previously loved swimming and outdoor activities.

She said her daughter had poignantly described herself following the attack as the “unluckiest girl in the world.”

Meanwhile her father said he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt his “independent, strong minded” daughter in such a “malicious and sadistic” way.

Christopher Paxton KC for Tye, who has no previous convictions, acknowledged the serious consequences of his client’s actions and the tragic impact it had had on the victim and her family.

He said Tye’s guilty pleas represented his genuine remorse.

He accepted there was a degree of planning but said Tye didn’t have a fascination with violence or weapons.

He said he came from a loving and supportive family who were at a loss to explain what he had done.

“They condemn fair and square what he has done but continue to support him now and in the future,” said Mr Paxton.