Gary Jenkins murder trio handed life sentences over homophobic attack

Three people have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Dr Gary Jenkins.

Jason Edwards, 26, Lee Strickland, 36, and Dionne Timms-Williams, 17, were all given life sentences at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday.

Edwards and Strickland will serve minimum terms of 32 years and 123 days, while Timms-Williams will be detained for at least 17 years.

Dr Jenkins was beaten during a homophobic attack in Cardiff’s Bute Park in July 2021.

He was found unconscious and subsequently died of his injuries in hospital 16 days later.

Edwards, Strickland and Timms-Williams admitted manslaughter and robbery but were convicted of his murder after an eight-day trial at Merthyr Crown Court in South Wales between January and February this year.

The jury was played audio of the attack, which was captured on a nearby CCTV camera, during which Dr Jenkins pleaded for his life as the trio beat and shouted abuse at him.

Timms-Williams could be heard laughing at Dr Jenkins and at the end of the assault, that it is believed may have lasted over 30 minutes, was heard saying: “Yeah, I needed that.”

The schoolgirl, who was 16 at the time, is not believed to have known Edwards or Strickland before the attack.