Janice Carter

Background

Janice Carter was a Margate woman. She was 29 at the time of being jailed for a minimum of 12 years for murder, and she was also described as 28 in court reporting.

Kevin Carter, her former husband, was 30. He was found dead in the flat he shared with Janice Carter in Sweyn Road, Margate on 14 October 2011.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Janice Carter and Kevin Carter had a long history of domestic violence and had recently got back together. They had divorced three years before the murder. Kent Police said the couple had divorced three years before the murder, and that on the day of his death Mr Carter had just been released from prison for driving offences.

Another report described them as divorcing two years earlier and continuing to be together.

The court was told that the pair had a long history of alcohol-fuelled domestic violence. They had been drinking beer and spirits during the evening and playing loud music at their flat in Sweyn Road, Margate.

The offence

At their home in Sweyn Road, Margate, Janice Carter and Kevin Carter got into an argument about where the tracker unit for his electronic tag should be located.

Between 8pm and 8.20pm, a neighbour heard three hollow thumps and Mr Carter shouting. There was another hollow thump, and after that there was no more shouting. After 10 minutes the neighbour heard an internal door slam and then just the sound of music. At 9pm the music suddenly went off.

Kevin Carter was stabbed in the neck, chest and abdomen, and he was found dead at the flat. One report said he was stabbed 19 times. Another report said he had 21 knife wounds.

Janice Carter admitted stabbing him but claimed she had only done so in self-defence and denied murder. Her barrister, Oliver Saxby, asked: "Did you intend to kill him?" She replied: "No."

A pathologist discovered that some of the knife wounds had penetrated his heart and lung and severed an artery.

Investigation

Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Detective Inspector Trevor Fleming described the case as a tragic situation where a volatile situation had turned violent. He said:

"Whatever happened that night between Janice and Kevin Carter could never justify stabbing someone 19 times with a kitchen knife,"

Trial

Janice Carter wept as she was told she would serve at least 12 years before she was eligible for parole.

A jury of eight women and four men at Canterbury Crown Court found her guilty of murder on April 3, 2012. Reporting described the guilty verdict as by an 11-1 majority.

The court heard that Mr Carter had been released early from a 180-day sentence for motoring offences on condition that he was electronically tagged.

The prosecutor, Christopher May, told the court that there were sources of tension between Janice Carter and Kevin Carter in the run up to his release from prison, including "arrangements for the terms of his release."

The court was told that officials from G4S arrived to install an electronic monitoring device inside the flat as part of the conditions of the prison release. The prosecutor said:

"The tagging equipment was eventually installed in the bedroom and Janice carter was described as not happy about that, though she was joking and hugging the G4S employees."

The prosecutor also said a neighbour returned to his flat after having been drinking with the couple earlier, but could hear the couple shouting. The prosecutor said:

"He was able to make out some of the swear words. He could also hear Janice's voice getting louder and it sounded like there was a full-blown row between the two."

The prosecutor described what the neighbour heard during the incident, saying:

"There was another hollow thump and after that there was no more shouting," and "After 10 minutes he heard an internal door slam and after that just the sound of music. At 9pm the music suddenly went off."

Christopher May also described what happened after the stabbing. Reporting said that Janice Carter went to the home of her sister, Michelle Cheney, in Zion Place, and told her:

"I've killed him. I've stabbed him. I think he's dead."

Her sister’s partner went to the flat and found Mr Carter lying on the kitchen floor with a kitchen knife by his side.

Janice Carter told her sister:

"I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to do it. I never hurt anyone. Michelle, I said to Kevin: 'Please wake up. Please wake up'. But he wouldn't wake up."

In March 27, 2012 reporting from the trial, Janice Carter said the following to the court when asked about her actions:

"He began slapping me with the palm of his hand across my head from side to side. He was screaming in my face. I was scared. I was trying to calm him down. "He started kicking things around the room. I wanted to leave but he never gave me a chance. "We were in the kitchen and he grabbed my hair and I was holding his arms. I just reached behind and grabbed a knife. I just swung the knife and stabbed him. I just lashed out. I can't remember how many times. "I just wanted him to stop him pulling my hair. When he let go, I dropped the knife and ran out of the door."

In the same report, Janice Carter also said:

"because I loved him"

It was reported that the jury was also read Mr Carter's love letters penned from his cell in which he said he wanted to re-marry and have more children.

Sentencing

Passing sentence, Judge Adele Williams told Janice Carter it was self-defence which turned into an attack. Judge Adele Williams was quoted as saying:

"It started out as a defence - but turned to attack."

She was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 12 years. Reporting said she would serve at least 12 years before she was eligible for parole.

Outcome

Janice Carter was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison (minimum 12 years) on April 3, 2012.