An axeman whose ‘murderous’ assault could have cost the life of a feted Oxford lawyer faces a life sentence in prison.
Ukraine-born Taras Voinovich, 69, launched the vicious attack on immigration solicitor Philip Turpin with the sheathed axe after smashing a window at the man’s east Oxford home.
Stuck to the front window was a poster that read: “Thank God for immigrants.”
READ MORE: Alleged axeman denies attacking lawyer outside east Oxford home
When Mr Turpin’s wife ran to his aid during the breakfast-time attack on July 28 last year, she too was struck over the head.
A Good Samaritan who managed to wrestle the knife from his hands was also struck.
Neighbours alerted by the noise followed Voinovich, who dropped his bicycle and walked away, down the road and pointed him out to police officers, who arrested the eerily calm axeman at the junction of Leopold Street and Cowley Road.
Jurors took less than two hours to return unanimous guilty verdicts to counts of wounding with intent, causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
But Voinovich, of Islip Road, Oxford, was not in the dock to hear himself convicted – having refused to leave prison having, on Monday, watched the two principal witnesses having to relive what Recorder John Hardy KC branded a ‘murderous assault’.
The judge said Voinovich’s decision to make the victims give evidence was ‘gratuitous and sadistic’.
Following the verdicts, the judge told the lawyers: “The view that I have taken of this case is that the defendant is manifestly extremely dangerous.
“However, I am going to adjourn sentencing because I want a psychiatric report and a pre-sentence report on the issue of dangerousness.
“But I have to tell you, I am considering imposing a life sentence on counts one and two [wounding with intent] with a tariff which may well involve him dying in prison.”
He dictated a letter, which would be translated into Russian and given to the defendant in prison. “If he, for example, simply tears it up and refuses to read it he has had the opportunity to engage with the process.”
He will be sentenced on March 20.
Earlier, prosecutor Jonathan Stone suggested that a motive for the attack could have been a dispute between the defendant and Mr Turpin’s law firm, Turpin and Miller.
The jury heard that the firm had been dealing with an ‘application’ on his behalf.
There was a dispute, ‘a refund had been requested, because the defendant was aggrieved for whatever reason about money he didn’t think he should have to pay’.
A letter confirming that the refund was being paid was sent by first class post on July 27. Mr Stone said: “We don’t know and we can’t say whether the defendant received that letter or not.
"But had he received the letter confirming ‘yes, you can have the refund’, would the events of July 28 have taken place? That’s a matter for you.”
Defending, in his closing speech Richard Barrett asked the jury to accept that it was not a ‘pre-meditated, planned attack’ and there was no evidence of him lying in wait for the lawyer and his wife. The reverse – or blunt – side of the sheathed axe was used, he said.
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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.
To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward
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