THE devastated daughter of a woman stabbed to death in a frenzied knife attack on Christmas Day has said the killer's 17-year sentence will "never bring my mummy back.”
Psychiatric Jayne Toal Reat died from seven stab wounds while her daughter Charlotte Reat sustained knife injuries to her face during a horrific stabbing incident at their home in Mornington Lane, Lisburn on December 25 2017.
Judge Patrick Lynch QC told self-confessed killer Nathan Ward (20) that he had "robbed her of her life and prospects" and it would be for parole commissioners to determine when he would be released.
“Nothing this court, or you can ever do well even begin to undo the damage you have caused her through your own uncontrolled hatreds and passions," the judge said.
As Ward was being led to the cells to begin his life sentence Charlotte, who cried throughout, jumped a 3ft high wooden partition separating the public gallery and had to be restrained by four uniformed police officers.
Ward, wearing a black t-shirt and blue track suit bottoms, showed no emotion and remained impassive.
At an earlier hearing Ward admitted the murder of 43-year-old, the attempted murder of Charlotte (22) and wounding his father Joseph Tweedie with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on Christmas Day 2017.
It can now be revealed that Ward also confessed to three counts of sexually assaulting Charlotte, twice on December 9 after she celebrated her 21st birthday and again on Christmas Day.
It was the sexual assault at 5.17am on Christmas morning that when caught by Jayne, sparked Ward into launching an attack with a 9in combat knife he had bought online.
During his sentencing remarks yesterday Judge Lynch said he appeared “ to have had an unhealthy sexual obsession with Charlotte, not reciprocated, which, in part at any rate, underlies the tragic events giving rise to the Christmas day murder."
A court heard last week that Ward had fantasised about killing Jayne Toal Reat and in the months before the attack he had bought knives, duct tape and "intimidating" gas masks with a mind to "torturing" her.
The court heard that it would have been inevitable that Charlotte Reat "would have suffered that same fate as her mother" had Ward's father not entered the room.
Ward told police that when Jayne woke up and challenged him, he “just snapped” and felt he had no other choice but “to just go for it.”
Ward, also of Mornington Lane, pleaded guilty to all charges in January. As well as the murder, he also admitted the attempted murder of Charlotte Reat and the malicious wounding of his father Joseph Tweedie.
Addressing legal guidelines for sentencing in murder cases, the judge at Craigavon Crown Court said he assessed Ward as a dangerous offender due to "the extreme nature of the offences of violence, the degree of premeditation, the defendant arming himself preparatory to the attack.”
Speaking outside the court, Detective chief inspector Peter McKenna welcomed the sentence and said he had “no doubt” society is a safer place with the dangerous killer in jail.
“Today Nathan Ward was sentenced for murdering his stepmother Jayne Reat as she lay beside her daughter in bed in their Lisburn home on Christmas Day 2017.
“Jayne and her daughter Charlotte, who was only 21 at the time, should’ve been waking up to enjoy a special festive time at Christmas.
"Instead they awoke to the horror of Nathan Ward standing beside their bed armed with a knife.
"He stabbed defenceless Jayne multiple times before stabbing Charlotte and attacking his own father who had come to their aide. Tragically Jayne passed away from her injuries, dying in Charlotte's arms.
"No daughter should ever have to go through such a traumatic and heartbreaking ordeal," he said.
"Jayne was a psychiatric nurse. She dedicated her life to helping others yet she was murdered in cold blood in her own home by Nathan Ward who she had welcomed into that home.
"Nathan has robbed her of the joy of seeing her daughter Charlotte growing into a young woman and his callous actions have also denied Charlotte of the love, guidance and friendship of her mother.
"I am in no doubt that Nathan Ward is a dangerous man and he has shown no remorse for his actions.
The community is a much safer place now that he is behind bars and I would like to pay tribute to Jayne’s family who have shown great courage throughout this investigation.”
Standing beside the senior detective a devastated Charlotte said she was “disappointed” at the sentence.
“I just want to thank the police for being there for me and my family. “[I’m] disappointed at the outcome because it will never bring my mummy back.
"I can’t say I am happy but I’m glad that Nathan has finally admitted to what he has done. This has been an extremely long and tough journey without my mum and it will only continue," she said.
"The courts are finally over. However I will never see my mummy again and this destroys me. She was my best friend, my everything and I love her so much."
