Schoolboy walks free in stabbing case

The court heard the boy had suffered domestic violence

A 13-year-old schoolboy has walked free from Cardiff Crown Court after stabbing a violent husband who was beating up his wife.

The boy heard the terrified woman's cries for help as he passed their home - and broke into the house to save her.

As David Williams attacked his wife, Kath, the boy grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him.

Judge Michael Gibbon released the boy after hearing he had been a victim of domestic violence himself.

Taken to hospital

Police found Mr Williams on his knees on the floor with a piece of metal blade from a steak knife protruding from below his right shoulder blade.

He was taken to hospital and treated for a partially collapsed right lung.

The court heard the schoolboy had been removed from his own parents at the age of 10 because of domestic violence.

Gregg Taylor, defending, said the boy wanted to prevent domestic violence that was going on in the house.

He said he had seen enough domestic violence in his own home - his step-father assaulted him and his mother regularly.

'A wicked thing'

Cardiff Crown Court heard police were called to the Williams' home more than 70 times in the five months leading up to the knifing.

The boy, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, admitted wounding and was sentenced to a two-year supervision order.

Judge Michael Gibbon QC told the boy: "You over-reacted to the situation and took a knife to Mr Williams and that was a wicked thing to have done.

"When I initially read the papers I said to myself: 'He must be punished by sending him away'. But you had an unhappy childhood and a step-father who violently abused you."