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Man jailed for life following double knife attack

Dominic Palmer has been jailed for life (West Midlands Police)
Dominic Palmer has been jailed for life (West Midlands Police)

A man has been jailed for life for two vicious knife attacks just hours apart.

Dominic Palmer, 29, stabbed a schoolboy and a 59-year-old woman in unprovoked attacks in the early hours of 30 September last year.

First, he stabbed the 15-year-old boy in the head and neck outside a mosque in Small Heath, Birmingham at 1am, moments after leaving his nearby home.

Soon afterwards he was captured on CCTV in a lift at his block of flats with blood-stained hands.

CCTV footage of Palmer showed him with bloody hands soon after the first attack (West Midlands Police)
CCTV footage of Palmer showed him with bloody hands soon after the first attack (West Midlands Police)

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He left home again at 5.30am, this time stabbing a woman from behind as she walked to work, leaving her with injuries to her nose, jaw and head.

Without the prompt response of a passer-by who heard the woman’s screams and ran to her aid, police believe the attack could have been fatal.

West Midlands Police arrested unemployed Palmer from his flat later that morning, after a concierge at his building reported seeing him return home covered in blood.

Palmer – who has a history of mental illness – refused to answer police questions or give evidence at court.

He denied two counts of attempted murder but was found guilty and today (Friday March 23) was jailed for life; he will serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

The knife Palmer used to attack his two victims (West Midlands Police)
The knife Palmer used to attack his two victims (West Midlands Police)

West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Richard Marsh, who led the enquiry, said: “These were savage attacks; without intervention of members of the public and medical assistance both incidents could have resulted in fatal consequences.

“Palmer has never offered any explanation for his actions. The awful attack on the 15-year-old boy happened outside a mosque and there were suspicions initially it was racially-motivated – but that was later discounted and it appears his victims were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Detective Inspector Marsh added: “And although Palmer has a history of mental illness the judge concluded that did not play a part in these attacks.

“We quickly arrested Palmer and seized CCTV showing his movements immediately before and after both stabbings – his blood-stained jacket was found discarded on a grass bank near his flat and blood-stained clothing and a knife were recovered from within his premises.

“His victims are still dealing with the physical and psychological effects of these attacks and I wish them well with their on-going recoveries.”