By James Simons-
An Oxford University student who avoided jail for stabbing her boyfriend is ridiculously trying to appeal against her suspended sentence. Her appeal will fail because she was incredibly lucky to have a suspended sentence in the first place.
24 year old Lavinia Woodward, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding at Christ Church college after drinking heavily.She admitted being addicted to class A drugs, and she also had an eating disorder.
In a controversial move, Judge Ian Pringle QC suspended her 10-month jail sentence . At an earlier hearing , the judge said he believed immediate custody would irreversbly damage her career, adding that she was too clever to go to jail. Pringle made reference to her repentance, and the fact she had drug issues at the time which she had addressed by her court date.
She has now applied for permission to take her case to the Court of Appeal.
The case prompted a debate about inequality in the criminal justice system after Judge Pringle deferred her sentence to give her a chance to prove she was no longer addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Describing Woodward as “an extraordinarily able young lady” Pringle said jailing her would damage her hopes of becoming a surgeon. The judge pointed to “many mitigating features” of the case, adding that she had shown “a strong and unwavering determination” to rid herself of her addictions.
Woodward, who has taken time off her studies at Oxford until the end of her sentence, faces a disciplinary procedure when she decides to return.
Woodward wa sin court for stabbing with a bread knife after discovering he contacted her mother to report the fact she had beeen drinking. She had met him on dating app Tinder, while he was visiting in December 2016.
She became angry when he contacted her mother on Skype when he realized she had been drinking.
She threw a laptop at him and stabbed him in the lower leg with a bread knife, also injuring two of his fingers.
Woodward then tried to stab herself with the knife before he disarmed her.
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) rejected three complaints against Judge Pringle in connection with the case because they related to an independent judicial decision and not conduct. The watchdog only deals with complaints about a judicial office-holder’s personal conduct , not judicial decisions or case management
PERMISSION
A judge will now assess Woodward’s application and decide whether to grant her permission to appeal. The Eye Of Media.Com believes her application should fail because its success will send the wrong message to the public that violence is inexcusable for clever students. Even if she is given permission to appeal, she will need a miracle to be successful when the case is finally heard again. She will become an extraordinary legend if she succeeds in overturning the much disapproved light sentence she was given by Pringle.
A spokesperson from Oxford University said they had no comment to make in relation to Woodford.