Couple to tie knot after one was accused of trying to kill the other

Shopworker Alex Henson, 22, was accused of trying to kill his partner, retired police inspector Chris Ogley, 37, in a late-night knifing that punctured a lung and left four stab wounds in his body.

Police found a kitchen knife with a bloody blade five or six inches long in their home.

For five months they had to live apart, including a spell behind bars charged with attempted murder for Henson.

But the prosecution had to drop the charge to wounding after Mr Ogley refused to work with the police against his partner and Henson walked free from court.

Back home together again, they are about to make their relationship officially permanent with a civil partnership ceremony.

"I am so happy now that everything has been sorted out," said Mr Ogley. "It absolutely tore our lives apart for the last five months.

"I didn't consider myself as a victim. I am Alex's partner. We have always had a really strong relationship."

And Henson said his partner's support throughout the court case meant a lot to him: "It's been hard for me. The important things are people close to you. You appreciate life when you have had it taken away from you." He is now planning to improve his education.

Henson, of Rudstone House, Penley's Grove Street, The Groves, pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Ogley and got a 50-week prison sentence suspended for two years on condition that he does 180 hours' unpaid work and 18 months' supervision.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Norman Jones QC, told him at Leeds Crown Court: "You now know the consequences of exercising what I believe is a somewhat excitable nature in domestic circumstances." And he warned him against grabbing a knife again when things didn't run smoothly at home.

"If you do so, you could end up not just causing injury but death to someone who lives with you. If you do, then you will be looking at a sentence measured in years, if not decades."

The court heard that a major reason why the prosecution accepted the guilty plea to the lesser charge of wounding was Mr Ogley's refusal to give police a statement.

Det Con Nicky Hancock, the officer in the case, said in a statement outside court: "This case from the beginning was recognised as having difficulties around the co-operation of the victim. It is a case that involved serious harm to the complainant.

"Domestic violence within the home is taken very seriously by North Yorkshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

"Despite the difficulties of the case, the court has seen fit to deliver an appropriate sentence that sends out the message that any matter of domestic violence within the home will be pursued very actively by the police."

- Timeline

Spring 2005: The couple meet in a Manchester nightclub and quickly form a strong partnership

January 4, 2006: An argument in their home ends with Chris Ogley in the street bleeding from stab wounds

January 5, York Magistrates Court: Alex Henson makes his first court appearance and is remanded in custody

January 13, Leeds Crown Court: Henson's second court appearance. He gets bail on condition he has no contact with Mr Ogley. Mr Ogley later goes to Henson's solicitors and gets that condition lifted. A second condition that the couple live apart lasts throughout the case

March 22, Leeds Crown Court: Henson's defence team try to get case thrown out on the grounds the prosecution, without evidence from Mr Ogley, don't have a case. Case adjourned when legal arguments take longer than expected

May 8, Leeds Crown Court: The Recorder of Leeds says the case must go on

May 22, Leeds Crown Court: Henson pleads guilty to wounding Mr Ogley and is given a suspended prison sentence.

Updated: 08:47 Friday, May 26, 2006