Family remembers murder victim John Connolly

The family of murder victim John Connolly (above) said the murder of the retired care worker has left a ‘hole that can never be filled’.

Yesterday, Owen Blades was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 35 years for John’s murder at his Portland Street home on June 13 last year.

John’s body was found by officers on Tuesday, June 18 after his family called police because they were concerned for his welfare.

He was 69 when he died and would have celebrated his 70th birthday with family in February. 

In a statement after Blades’ sentencing John’s family said: “Today, justice has been served on Owen Blades. Our brother John did not deserve to die in the cruel the way he did. He was in his own home; that was supposed to be his safe space, anyone should feel safe in their own home, and no one has the right to invade it like that. We can’t imagine how terrified he would have been. 

“On 2 February this year, John would have been 70. Instead of celebrating his birthday, we had to take flowers to his grave. We never envisaged that we would be doing this. 

“Hopefully, now we as a family can begin to try and move forward and grieve; this has left the biggest hole in our hearts that will never be filled. John will be forever in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.”

Blades, who had been arrested on June 13 and charged with grievous bodily harm,  which had taken place at Merkur Slots in Lincoln that same day, was on remand while police investigated that crime but was quickly identified as a suspect for John’s murder.

This attack happened during a day of violence which saw Blades assault another man, bring a knife out in public, and carry out a burglary and another theft.

Detective Chief Inspector Jen Lovatt led the investigation from Lincolnshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

“There are never any words we can share with a family to make up for what they have endured, so we do the next thing in our power, and that is everything possible to ensure that the person responsible for this tragedy is brought to justice. This was a complex investigation because sadly, John was not found for five days until after he had been killed, and in my view that fact is all the more terrible because the man who did it was already behind bars by then. 

"Blades knew what he had done. He knew that he had stabbed and killed John on 13 June, but sat in his prison cell after having been swiftly arrested for an assault that same day, and said nothing. 

“Our investigators picked apart his movements, CCTV footage, and forensics examinations to link him to John’s murder, and I am grateful to the team of officers and staff who worked hard to help us get to this point. 

"I am thankful that John’s family were spared the ordeal of a trial, although I feel for them at having that anticipation right up until it was due to start because Blades still refused to accept his guilt until that last possible moment. 

“They have conducted themselves with dignity and strength throughout this whole investigation and during the court process, and I pay tribute to their poise in the face of such tragedy. 

"We also need to think about the other victims of Blades’ crimes, who will have also been traumatised by his actions, including the man he stabbed at Merkur Slots in the city centre, and the victims of the aggravated burglary in the same street he killed John. Today, I hope they can all start to move forward.”

Blades, formerly of Tennyson Street, Gainsborough, was sentenced a Lincoln Crown Court to 32 years and 3 months for murder.

He also received a sentence of six years and nine months for GBH at Merkur Slots; two years for the aggravated burglary; two months for the theft from Tesco; and two years and three months for possession of an offensive weapon.

These will run concurrently.