Killer stabbed man 13 times before attacking woman

A murderer who stabbed a man to death and seriously injured a woman in a flat has been jailed for life.

Gediminas Cepla, 43, stabbed Linton Needham 13 times at Mr Needham's flat in Bulwell, Nottingham, on 20 April.

He then stabbed a 34-year-old woman twice in the chest and chased her after she escaped through a window, Nottinghamshire Police said.

On Thursday, Cepla, of Quarry Avenue in Bulwell, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years and 182 days, after being found guilty of murder and wounding with intent.

Police said Cepla was "desperate for money" to pay off a drug debt when he attacked the pair in April.

Emergency services were called to Cinderhill Walk following the double stabbing.

Cepla's victims were found outside the block of flats with serious injuries.

Mr Needham, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman was taken to hospital.

Police said Cepla later approached officers who were at the cordon and told them he knew what had happened and where they could find the knife he used.

He claimed he had acted in self-defence, but at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, a jury found Cepla guilty of murder.

In relation to the attack on the woman, he was found guilty of wounding with intent.

A four-year sentence for the second charge will run concurrently with his life sentence.

After the sentencing, Det Con Dionne Love said: "Despite his already unforgiveable behaviour, Cepla then exacerbated things still further by lying about what happened and claiming he'd acted in self-defence.

"We're pleased to see the jury saw through his lies in the trial that followed and returned a unanimous guilty verdict within a couple of hours."

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