Title: Former Prisoner Found Guilty of Murder Shortly After Release
Revised Content:
A distressing event was discovered in Lincoln, where 27-year-old Owen Blades, hailing from Gainsborough, was charged with the murder of John Connolly, a 69-year-old retired carer. The brutal act transpired only two days after Blades’ release from prison at Connolly’s terraced home on Portland Street. Blades used a pointed knife, sold to him for £25 in Scunthorpe one day preceding the incident, to inflict a fatal attack on Connolly. It was revealed in the court that Blades had been released from HMP Lincoln on 11 June after having served a sentence for a previous assault.
In addition to the murder, Blades also committed theft at a local Tesco and displayed distressing behaviour at Merkur Slots gaming facility, where he brandished a knife and made threats to others. Connolly, poignantly described by his sister as a ‘genuinely caring and loving person’, was distressingly found in his armchair several days later, deceased as a result of a prolonged and vicious attack. Blades has confessed to additional offences of burglary, theft, and causing injury with malevolent intent. The sentencing is due to take place at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
