Jury convicts Voong of killing pub worker and of wounding Swindon woman Leanne James

Today a jury found him guilty of manslaughter and of wounding Swindon woman Leanne James, 24, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Voong, 29, of Southbrook Street, hit Leanne repeatedly over the head with a snooker cue and five weeks later Tom Rogers, 60, died after being stabbed 20 times with a knife to the neck and chest at about 11.30pm, on Thursday, June 26, 2014.

Both random attacks took place on a cycle path about 100 yards from Swindon railway station, between the Oasis Leisure Centre and Station Road.

After two hours, the jury found Voong guilty of manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a week-long trial at Bristol Crown Court.

The jury had acquitted Voong of the charges of murder and attempted murder.

Voong had not denied the attacks but said he was guilty of Mr Rogers' manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to an abnormality of mind.

Three psychiatrists agreed that Voong had an abnormality of mental functioning because he was suffering from simple schizophrenia but disagreed as to whether that impaired his judgment and thinking.

Voong did not give evidence in the trial or provide police with an explanation for his actions.

Leanne was walking to her home in Rodbourne from her work at a marketing firm in Swindon town centre at 10.30pm on May 8, 2014, when she was attacked.

Voong hit her several times on the head with a snooker cue before repeatedly punching and kicking her as she lay on the ground. He also stole her mobile phone during the attack.

Leanne told the jury that Voong attacked her out of the blue as she walked past him on the footpath.

"I was lying on the floor and I just closed my eyes. I thought if I lay here with my eyes closed he would think I had passed out and leave me alone," Leanne added.

It is not known why Voong stopped his attack but prosecutors suggested he was spooked by Miss James's mobile phone ringing.

Five weeks later on the same path, Voong attacked Mr Rogers, who was cycling home from his shift after enjoying a last drink with his son at the Hungry Horse pub in Peatmoor.

A knife was found close to the scene of Mr Rogers' death and blood recovered from the blade matched him and forensic experts also found Voong's DNA.

Four days later Voong was arrested and at the police station he refused a solicitor, saying: "I know what I have done."

Police found a pair of blood-stained trainers, which contained the DNA of Leanne, as well as the packaging for the knife that the defendant bought in December 2012.

Pillows with slash wounds were also found, which prosecutors said was Voong "practising using a knife to make a stab action".

A police spokesman said: "Tom was stabbed multiple times and sadly died at the scene.

"A murder investigation was launched and DNA was found on a knife that was located near to the scene. Voong was identified as a suspect, arrested and later charged with Tom's murder.

"From the outset Voong admitted to killing Tom, but pleaded not guilty to his murder as he was suffering from a recognised mental disorder. Today he was found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility."

Leanne was seriously hurt but a member of the public found her and called an ambulance.

Although she has made a full recovery she has been left emotionally scarred by the incident.

Superintendent Sean Memory said: “Tom was brutally killed by Voong as he cycled home from his job at the Woodlands Edge pub in Peatmoor.

“This was a totally unprovoked attack and, tragically, it appears that Tom was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Tom’s death took place just over a month after Leanne James was left with serious head injuries after she was attacked by Voong on the same cycle path. Thankfully, she survived this attack.

“Voong is a violent and very dangerous individual who has twice randomly attacked members of the public with no apparent motive.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community in Swindon for their continued support throughout this investigation.

“I would also like to thank my team, colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service and to commend Leanne and Tom’s family for their dignity throughout this difficult time.

“Our thoughts remain with them at this time.”

Voong will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on a date yet to be fixed.

The court heard that Judge Neil Ford QC, The Recorder of Bristol, has several options open to him in sentencing Voong, which includes imposing a prison sentence or ordering his detention at a secure psychiatric hospital.

Before Voong, who is at Broadmoor, can be sentenced, the judge wishes to hear from the psychiatrists who gave evidence during the trial.

The court also heard victim impact statements from Miss James and Mr Rogers's sister Karen Grimes.

Leanne told the court of the devastation the attack had upon her.

"I slept with the light on for 10 days and hated the thought of waking up in the dark," she said. "I am very wary of men I do not know, especially ones I see outside."

She added: "It has made be look at life with a different perspective."

In a statement issued on her behalf she said: "I would like to thank the police and Tom's family for all of the support that I have received. I am glad that justice has now been done for both myself and Tom."

Karen Rogers, who lives in Australia, said: "It is difficult to put into words the effect of Tom's death has had upon us.

"I am the youngest of four children - two sisters and two brothers - a complete unit. Now we are two sisters and one brother and it is though there is a gaping hole.

"It was not Tom's time to go. He was a loving father, son and brother.

"I wasn't able to be there for Tom. Of course if I was to know what was to happen I would have said so much more to him. I would have told him I loved him and given him one last hug and one last kiss.

"It is like this has been a bad dream and the phone will ring and Tom will say 'all right', which is how all our conversations would begin."

She added: "I just hope he knew how much I loved him and how much he meant to me."

A statement issued on behalf of the family of Tom Rogers said: "The past few days have been very difficult. My sister and I have travelled from opposite sides of the globe to be here to represent our brother, Tom. His son, cousins and family have also been here throughout the trial.

"It has been heart breaking to hear the details of what happened to Tom in June of last year. Nobody deserves to die in such an appalling way. We wish we could turn the clock back.

"There are many people we would like to thank: Firstly, the Judge for the way in which the trial has been conducted; the jury for their careful attention to the evidence; Richard Pratt and the legal team for the way in which the case has been presented.

"We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Wiltshire Police and everyone involved in the thorough and meticulous investigation and preparation of the case.

"A heartfelt thanks goes to detectives Lizzie Hunt, Sarah Harnden and Superintendent Sean Memory for the unwavering support they have given our family from the moment we received the shocking news that Tom had been murdered.

"Finally, words cannot express our appreciation for the strength, bravery and courage displayed by Leanne James. We have now formed a lasting friendship with her.

"This trial closes a chapter for us all. Our lives have been on hold since June of last year. We will now try to move forward, with Tom always in our hearts."

Below, Police at the scene where Aulton 'Tom' Rogers' body was found, close to the Oasis Leisure Centre