NOTTINGHAM MAN DECLAN O’DONNELL JAILED FOR SADISTIC MURDER OF PARTNER
Police branded a live-streamed attack on a frail and vulnerable Nottingham man in his own home as "sadistic".Declan O’Donnell, 24, previously of Mansfield Road, Nottingham, was jailed yesterday (Friday, May 19) over the murder of his aunt’s partner, Paul Cox, 63, who died eight days after the horrific attack in February.
He was handed a mandatory life sentence for murder, after being convicted by a jury on Monday (May 15).
His minimum term was set at 21 years and 272 days before he will be eligible to apply for parole.
Nottingham Crown Court heard O'Donnell has PTSD, ADHD, alcohol dependency, and an emotionally unstable personality disorder.
Detective Inspector Melanie Crutchley of Nottinghamshire Police described the attack as "truly horrifying, almost defying belief in its brutality and utterly senseless nature," stating that O’Donnell beat Paul unconscious over a prolonged period and live streamed the attack on his mobile phone, showing no mercy.
She emphasized, "This was a sadistic attack and, by refusing to accept responsibility for his horrendous actions, O’Donnell subjected Paul’s loved ones to further pain by taking the case to trial, where the footage had to be replayed in open court." The court images show Declan O'Donnell was jailed for murdering Paul Cox.
The article also notes the family’s statement that "Nothing can bring our Paul back," and expressed grief for the disturbance caused, highlighting that O’Donnell will spend a significant part of his life behind bars, offering some solace to the family.
Detective Crutchley also thanked the jury for their professionalism and noted the lasting impact of the attack footage on them.
The family of Paul Cox expressed relief at the outcome, though deeply saddened by the tragedy, with a message: “Nothing can bring our Paul back, and although it does not make what has happened any easier to deal with, we believe that this was truly the right result.
The family has endured the hardest time over the past 15 months, and they now hope to focus on grieving.
Their thoughts are with everyone affected by O’Donnell’s actions.
