Oxford student could avoid jail after stabbing boyfriend “because of her extraordinary talent”
A 24-year-old Oxford student who stabbed her boyfriend could avoid jail after a judge said she had an “extraordinary” talent for medicine, reports The Telegraph.
Following an argument, Lavinia Woodward punched and the stabbed her boyfriend in the leg with a bread knife.
The man, believed to be a PhD student at Cambridge University, had begun dating Woodward earlier in the term after they met on dating app Tinder.
loading...
The 24-year-old who studied at Christ Church College, Oxford, admitted the charge in front of the court.
Oxford Crown Court and Judge Ian Pringle said the offence would normally mean a custodial sentence but deferred sentencing and explained the woman could avoid jail because of her ”extraordinary” talent.
He said: “It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe.
“What you did will never, I know, leave you but it was pretty awful, and normally it would attract a custodial sentence, whether it is immediate or suspended.”
The court was told her college will allow her to return to in October because she “is that bright” and has had articles published in medical journals.
Woodward will be sentenced on September 25. She was given a restraining order and told to stay drug-free and not to re-offend.
A spokesman for Christ Church College said: “I’m afraid that Christ Church does not comment on the circumstances of individual students.”
loading...
Loading...