A mother of three recalled an ordeal in which her partner of 11 years tried to kill her in a frenzy.
Carl Aubertin, 39, stabbed Sarah Healey, 51, of Bedworth, and slit her throat in front of her terrified granddaughter.
Fortunately, Sarah survived the attack, but Aubertin never revealed why she did it.
In August 2022, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder, intent grievous bodily harm, and assault.
Now the mother of three is speaking out to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Sarah Healey, (pictured) 51, of Bedworth, was stabbed to death by her partner of 11 years, Carl Aubertin, 39, and also had his throat slit in the frenzied attack.
Fortunately, Sarah survived the attack, but Carl (pictured to the right) never revealed why he did it. Now the mother of three is speaking out to raise awareness about domestic violence.
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE: Sarah, an assembly machine operator, recalls the gruesome attack in detail. She says that Carl followed her into the bathroom and soon after felt a knife against her neck.
Sarah, an assembly machine operator, says: ‘The emotional impact has been far worse than the physical effects.
“I loved Carl and shared every moment of my life with him for 11 years.
‘Turns out he didn’t know who I was, and I still don’t know why he tried to kill me that day.’
Sarah met Aubertin in 2010 through a mutual friend. From then on, the couple was inseparable.
Sarah explains: ‘Carl and I clicked. He was funny and kind and I felt very safe around him.
“He got along very well with my three children and my grandchildren, with whom we went on camping holidays in Wales and Cornwall. Life was perfect.
In April 2021, when Sarah’s family was visiting for the weekend, she was preparing a roast dinner in the kitchen while her granddaughter gave Carl a makeover.
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: Sarah says there was ‘blood everywhere’ during the frenzied, sustained attack as her granddaughter ‘screamed’ for it to stop
Sarah had to have multiple stitches in her hand after the shocking and unprovoked attack by her partner of 11 years.
Sarah says the couple met in 2010 and instantly “clicked” and became inseparable. She added that he was “funny” and that she “felt so safe with him.”
Says Sarah: ‘As I started to peel the potatoes, Carl appeared in the kitchen and told me that my granddaughter needed help in the bathroom.
“I went up the stairs and Carl followed me, but when we went into the bathroom, he put his hands around me.
Then I felt a knife against my neck.
‘I asked him what he was doing, but he was silent and instead he slit my throat.
“There was blood everywhere and my granddaughter was yelling at him to get off of me.”
Sarah suffered severe stab wounds to her arms, hands and neck, plus Carl grazed a major artery in her shoulder, which could have been fatal.
Aubertin proceeded to stab Sarah all over her arms, shoulders, and chest. He collapsed to the ground and used her hands to defend himself against her.
After a while, Aubertin dropped the knife and pushed Sarah’s granddaughter out of the room.
Leaving Sarah for dead on the bathroom floor, he fled.
Says Sarah: ‘I was in the most pain I’ve ever been in, but my only goal was to make sure my granddaughter was safe.
I wrapped a towel around my neck and dragged myself downstairs.
Fortunately, Sarah’s granddaughter was with her neighbors, who had gathered outside after hearing the commotion.
An ambulance was called and Sarah was taken to Coventry University Hospital.
Sarah had sustained severe stab wounds to her arms, hands and neck, and Aubertin had grazed a major artery in her shoulder, which could have been fatal.
The next day, Sarah underwent a six-hour reconstructive operation, in which surgeons placed 100 stitches in her hands and arms and 20 in her neck.
She recalls: ‘I had both arms in splints, so I couldn’t do anything by myself, like eat or go to the bathroom.
‘After spending three weeks in the hospital, I was released and moved to my daughter’s house so she could take care of me.
Sarah received physical therapy every week for months to regain movement in her hands and it took her a year to return to work.
“The police took a video statement from me, but I couldn’t tell them much because I had no idea why Carl had attacked me.”
Sarah had physical therapy every week for months to regain movement in her hands and it took her a year to get back to work.
Meanwhile, Aubertin was arrested and remanded in custody.
In August 2022, he was convicted of attempted murder, intent grievous bodily harm, and battery.
He was imprisoned for 23 years at Warwick Crown Court.
Sarah couldn’t face it, so her video interview was shown as evidence in court.
She says, ‘To this day, Carl has never revealed why he tried to kill me.
‘Now, I feel paranoid and question people’s intentions.
Thankfully my neck has healed well, but the scars on my hands and arms are a constant reminder of what I’ve been through.
But I refuse to let his attack stop me.
