(Left to right) Jason Edwards, Dionne Timms-Williams and Lee Strickland (Picture: Media Wales)
Two murderers who kicked and stamped on a psychiatrist and left him for dead in a homophobic attack have been refused permission to appeal their sentences.
Jason Edwards, 26, and Lee Strickland, 36, were jailed for life for killing Dr Gary Jenkins in a central Cardiff park on July 20 last year.
They, along with Dionne Timms-Williams, went to Bute Park in the early hours of the morning looking for vulnerable gay men to rob.
Their assault on Dr Jenkins, 54, lasted up to half an hour while they shouted homophobic abuse at him and eventually made off with his phone and bank cards.
He was left dead bloody and unconscious with his trousers pulled down, and died two weeks later in hospital on August 5.
Audio of the attack captured how he pleaded with the three killers to stop as they battered him.
Edwards and Strickland were ordered to serve minimum jail terms of 33 years, while Timms-Williams – who was a youth at the time and is now 18 – was detained for at least 17 years.
Dr Gary Jenkins ‘lived his life happily with love, music, creativity and dedication to his profession’ (Picture: Media Wales)
The two men submitted an application to the Court of Appeal that their sentences were ‘manifestly excessive’.
But three judges dismissed this yesterday, saying the sentence handed down by Judge Daniel Williams at Cardiff Crown Court in March was justified by the severity of the offence.
Sitting in Cardiff yesterday, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mrs Justice Foster and Mr Justice Griffiths, denied Edwards and Strickland leave to bring their appeals saying they had ‘no hesitation’ in concluding the sentences were justified.
There were a number of aggravating features to the murder, including that it was committed during a robbery and homophobic, the judges said.
Mr Justice Griffiths said: ‘There were other aggravating factors identified by the judge – the sustained ferocity of the attack, the murder being committed jointly by three people, the deliberately degrading way the victim was left.’
Quoting Judge Williams, Mr Justice Griffiths described how the victim’s ‘pleas turned to groans as his life ebbed away – but the defendants responded to this with homophobic insults and increasing violence’.
Footage released by police shows the moments before and after the murder (Picture: Media Wales)
Edwards and Strickland were under the influence of drink or drugs at the time of the attack, while a man who tried to intervene was also attacked.
Mr Justice Griffiths said they wanted to target a gay man ‘partly because they thought such a victim would be less likely to report any crime and partly out of homophobia’.
Both Strickland and Edwards had a lengthy list of previous convictions, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Mr Justice Griffiths said Edwards shared ‘full responsibility for the attack’ and the minimum term of 33 years in prison was justified.
‘It was a long sentence but cannot be said to be manifestly excessive of the facts of this case,’ the judge added.
‘We don’t consider Edwards’ appeal against sentence to be arguable and we therefore dismiss Edwards’ application for leave.’
Dr Jenkins, a consultant psychiatrist, was described by his family as a kind and compassionate man.
His wife, who he was separated from, said he was ‘an incredibly generous and creative man with only good intentions’.
At the initial sentencing hearing, she said in a statement that he was a ‘dedicated and hardworking doctor who was one of the most humane, kind, compassionate doctors one could ever come across.
‘He always went the extra mile, advocating for his patients and making sure their needs were met at all times. He is greatly missed by his colleagues and the patients he treated and many tributes have been paid to him in various places that he worked as well as a vigil in Cardiff thanking him for his altruism and contributions to helping others.’
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Jason Edwards, 26, and Lee Strickland, 36, were jailed for life for killing Dr Gary Jenkins in a central Cardiff park on July 20 last year.
