Man feared he would die in Christmas Eve pub 'revenge attack'

VICTIM WAS STABBED TWICE AND PHONED MUM TO SAY 'SORRY FOR RUINING' HOLIDAY AS HE DIDN'T THINK HE'D SURVIVE SURGERY

- By DAVID POWELL Daily Post Reporter [e-mail]

A MAN feared he would die after being stabbed twice in a pub on Christmas Eve.

Luke Smaje stabbed Jack Shaw at the Broad Oak pub in Connah's Quay in a “revenge” attack.

The victim, a martial arts fighter, suffered liver damage in the incident and was taken to hospital. He told his mum he thought he would die in surgery, saying “sorry for ruining Christmas”.

Smaje, 23, of Broad Oak View, Northop Hall, yesterday entered guilty pleas at Mold Crown Court to wounding and possession of a knife in a public place.

He was about to be sentenced when the prosecutor announced she had just had an email saying Mr Shaw was “waiting to find out if he is going to lose his bowels”.

The judge His Honour Timothy Petts said it would not be fair to the prosecution or defence to sentence on the basis of a “potentially unreliable email”.

So he adjourned the sentencing until Thursday. Earlier, prosecutor Anna Pope said Mr Shaw had had an on-off relationship with a woman. During an off period she had a relationship with Luke Smaje last spring.