🔴 Hunting Bow Horror: Husband Jailed for Attempted Murder

The court was told the assault took place on 8 September 2024 at the couple’s home in Strensall, near York. CCTV from within the property showed Carr arming himself with a bow and arrow and telling his wife: “You are dying tonight,” before launching an attack that prosecutors said was “deliberate, persistent, and fuelled by alcohol and rage”. The victim, who was stabbed six times in the back, managed to survive the ordeal and later provided key testimony in support of the prosecution.

Carr’s wife had narrowly escaped being struck when he first drew the bow and fired an arrow at a door she had just shut. He then chased her through the property, continuing to fire arrows. The victim managed to break several arrows in an effort to disarm her attacker but Carr located more and fired three shots into a duvet under which she had attempted to hide in the bedroom. It was at this point she called 999. While she was crouched on the floor in a foetal position, Carr took a kitchen knife and stabbed her repeatedly, while she remained on the line to the emergency operator.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police arrived promptly at the scene, locating Carr in a shed on the property. The victim, seriously injured, received emergency treatment at the scene and was later transported to Leeds General Infirmary where she underwent surgery. She remained in hospital for several days. A WhatsApp message sent by Carr after the attack read: “I’m glad I didn’t do what I wanted to do. I did say you were pushing me to far [sic]. My bag [sic] sorry.”

Carr was arrested at the scene and later interviewed. He offered no explanation for the attack. When charged, he initially pleaded guilty only to the lesser offence of causing grievous bodily harm, but denied attempted murder. However, during his trial, Carr gave evidence claiming he had only intended to scare his wife by drawing the bow and did not intend to kill her. He told the jury that if he had intended to kill her, his proficiency as an archer would have allowed him to do so. He suggested the events had stemmed from long-term stress, including full-time work, caring for his elderly mother, and increased dependence on alcohol. He claimed to have “blacked out” at the moment of the stabbing.

The prosecution refuted this narrative, presenting Carr’s actions as a premeditated and escalating act of domestic violence. The jury were shown the harrowing CCTV footage from inside the house, and the audio of the 999 call capturing the moments when the victim was stabbed. The court heard how Carr’s actions were those of a man overwhelmed by rage and alcohol, who had lost control and formed a clear intent to kill. The jury rejected Carr’s defence and found him guilty of attempted murder.

Carr, who had been remanded in custody since his arrest, was sentenced on Monday 2 June 2025. His 17-year custodial sentence reflects both the sustained nature of the attack and the degree of planning and violence involved.

Following sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove of North Yorkshire Police said the case served as a stark reminder of how domestic abuse can escalate without warning. He noted that the professionalism of the officers and control room staff involved in the response had ensured Carr was located and arrested before further harm could be done. He also highlighted the availability of support services such as IDAS, and urged anyone concerned about their safety in a relationship to make use of legal tools such as Clare’s Law, which allows the police to disclose whether someone has a prior history of violence.

This case underscores the dangerous reality of domestic abuse cases that reach the threshold of attempted murder, and the critical role played by immediate police response, digital evidence, and survivor testimony in securing convictions.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.