Andrew Pennington, who served as a councilor for Gloucester County, England, was killed in 2000 when an angry local man attacked his boss, Member of Parliament Nigel Jones, with a samurai sword, at the Liberal Democrat Party’s HQ. Pennington jumped in to try and protect Jones, but was stabbed six times. The killer, a local man and father of two named Robert Ashman, was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder due to his mental condition.
Ashman’s motives were murky. On the day of the attack, he had said, according to The Independent, that he “went to see Mr Jones to frighten him and find the truth,” but not with the intention to kill him, a motivation seemingly related to his mental issues. He blamed Jones for not helping him get back on his feet, but also accused local law enforcement of harassing him for no reason. Ashman’s state had deteriorated after he suffered a series of serious life setbacks, including bankruptcy, a job loss, and a divorce.
According to Detective Superintendent Wayne Murdock, per The Independent, Pennington’s heroic actions ended up saving Jones’ life, posthumously earning him the George Medal – a civilian honor given for heroism. Ashman was released from prison in 2012 after serving eight years, after authorities deemed him no longer a threat.
