Khan slashed a student across the face with a razor blade in 1996

The 34-year-old from the Tremorfa area of Cardiff, had a criminal record dating from 1994 when he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, being equipped for burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, and driving while disqualified.

But there was far worse to come.

After his release in 1996 Khan slashed student Peter Turnbull in the face with a cut-throat razor in Cardiff central library.

This is the worst attack I have seen in 30 years as a police officer - the injuries were significant and covered Mr Dodd's head and body North Wales Police Superintendent Peter Ackerley

After pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon, he was sentenced to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

He was sent to the maximum security Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside for three yaers before being moved into the care of the Caswell Clinic in Bridgend.

Then in 2000 Khan was released back into the community.

Within two years, he was living less than a minute's walk from his mother's flat in Tremorfa where his supervision and medical care.

On the evening of Monday, 24 March, he left Cardiff in his red Ford Mondeo estate to begin the journey which would end in Mr Dodd's death.

Within hours, Mr Dodd's body was found in the car park with his two dogs lying next to him after being repeatedly stabbed in the face and body more than 10 times with a seven-inch carving knife.

North Wales Police Superintendent Peter Ackerley said: "This is the worst attack I have seen in 30 years as a police officer, the injuries were significant and covered Mr Dodd's head and body."

On Friday, 28 March, Khan was arrested by Gwent Police in Rogerstone, Newport after stealing a car in Lancashire.

Later that morning an off-duty police officer discovered the knife used in the killing on a grass verge while jogging along the A494 Ruthin to Corwen road, more than 20 miles from Prestatyn.

It was identified as being the weapon after forensic tests were carried out.

The red Mondeo originally driven by Khan was reported to the police abandoned in Pulford near Chester.

The North Wales Crown Prosecution Service said the killing was a random attack and confirmed it had no idea of the events leading up to the stabbing.

There are no details of why Khan decided to kill Brian Dodd, or whether they talked, argued or even saw each other in the run up to the attack itself.

There are no witness accounts of the attack and it is unknown if Khan was also walking his dog on Ffrith Beach, or whether they were brought into contact because of their dogs.