A 21-year-old man has been given a life sentence for stabbing a 43-year-old man to death in a "revenge attack" with a machete in Cardiff. James Brogan, from St Mellons, was found with serious injuries at Coleford Drive on 12 November 2024 and died in hospital shortly after. Georgie Tannetta, from Trowbridge, was convicted of the murder of James Brogan at Newport Crown Court in May. He will serve a minimum of 22 years before he can be considered for parole. Judge Daniel Williams described it as a "sustained attack with a terrible weapon". One witness said the attack, which took place in daylight in a children's park, was like something from a "horror movie". They described how Tannetta used the 12 to 15 inch curved blade to "repeatedly jab and slash" at James Brogan. Among the wounds Mr Brogan received was a severed artery in his arm which caused what the judge described as a "catastrophic injury". Judge Williams commended one passer by who tried to help but said it was "striking" that no one else did anything to help. The court heard that two weeks before the attack there had been a "scuffle" between the two men after which Georgie Tannetta had told friends he would stab James Brogan. Mr Brogan had been sitting near the entrance of the park drinking lager with a friend at about 16:00 BST. The court heard that, as well as children, the park was used by "men wearing black clothing and balaclavas." Tannetta saw Jamie Brogan at a distance of 60m (200ft) and approached members of one group of men to ask for a knife. He concealed the machete in his clothing and approached Mr Brogan. Judge Williams said "he would not have known you were a threat" as the attack began by Tannetta "swinging" the machete. In a victim impact statement, Mr Brogan's daughter Sophie said her father's death had "devastated the family emotionally and physically". "Without him we all feel unsafe," she added. Ms Brogan said the loss was even more devastating as it was a "conscious choice" rather than a "moment that got out of hand". She said it was "part of a wider issue" of knife crime. Judge Williams said "the agony of the family's loss is all the greater for its needlessness". He added that an aggravating feature was that the public nature of the attack with "primary school children forced to watch what took place". Det Insp Rebecca Merchant, from South Wales Police, said the case highlighted the "devastating and far-reaching consequences of knife crime". "If you have suspicions that someone may be carrying a knife, please contact police. Speaking out could save someone's life," she added.
Father killed in 'revenge' machete attack at children's park
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"Man Sentenced to Life for Machete Murder in Children's Park"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A 21-year-old man, Georgie Tannetta, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of James Brogan, a 43-year-old man, in a brutal machete attack in Cardiff. The incident occurred on November 12, 2024, at Coleford Drive, a location that is frequented by families and children. Tannetta approached Brogan while concealing a machete with a blade measuring between 12 to 15 inches. Witnesses described the attack as horrific, with Tannetta repeatedly jabbing and slashing at Brogan, resulting in severe injuries, including a severed artery. Despite the presence of bystanders, only one person attempted to intervene, highlighting the shocking nature of the crime that unfolded in broad daylight. Judge Daniel Williams characterized the assault as a sustained attack with a terrible weapon and noted the devastating impact it had not only on Brogan but also on the community, particularly as children were present during the incident.
The court proceedings revealed that the attack was premeditated, stemming from a prior altercation between Tannetta and Brogan two weeks earlier. Tannetta had expressed intentions to harm Brogan to friends before the incident, indicating a clear motive for revenge. In his ruling, Judge Williams emphasized the needless loss of life and the emotional toll on Brogan's family, particularly underscoring the victim's daughter's statement about the family's ongoing sense of fear and insecurity following their father's death. The judge also pointed out the societal issue of knife crime, which has become increasingly prevalent, calling for greater awareness and action to prevent such tragedies. Detective Inspector Rebecca Merchant from South Wales Police echoed this sentiment, urging the public to report any suspicions of knife possession to help save lives and mitigate the impact of such violent acts in communities.
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