Tony Curant, 33, who brutally stabbed the mother of his children, Leila Young, to death in their home on Penhill Road, has had the minimum term of his life imprisonment sentence reduced to 20 years. Curant was initially sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years on Friday, August 2, but Judge David Aaronberg KC reduced the sentence by one year on Tuesday, August 6, under the “slip rule,” acknowledging that Curant had not received the appropriate reduction for his guilty plea.
Curant attacked Leila on January 16, while their children hid in terror in a room next door. The court heard that Leila, described as a fun and loving mother, was planning to leave Curant due to his abusive behaviour. In text messages, she referred to him as “the biggest bully she had ever met” and made it clear that their relationship was over.
On the day of the attack, Leila left a voice message for her mother, speaking quietly and indicating that she might need help. She also sent a recording of herself crying as Curant baselessly accused her of infidelity. Leila’s mother tried to reach her but received no response.
At around 4 p.m., Curant called 999, stating that Leila had been stabbed and was “basically dead.” When emergency services arrived, Curant calmly answered the door and directed them to the bedroom, where Leila was found lying in a pool of blood. Despite her critical condition, Leila was able to tell paramedics, “Please save me. I can’t feel my body. Tony done it.”
The couple’s children were found in the next room, traumatized and asking, “Is mum still alive?” They told officers that their father had taken their phones so they couldn’t call for help. Tragically, Leila succumbed to her injuries a week later, on January 23.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Leila’s mother, Caroline Young, expressed her devastation: “My beautiful daughter Leila was brutally taken from us all by the father of her children and the man she trusted. The man she tried so hard to help.” Caroline described her daughter as the life and soul of the family, whose presence brought joy and laughter.
“Our family has been shattered by this senseless act of violence. Joy and laughter have been replaced by tears and grief,” she said. Caroline also shared the unbearable pain of holding her daughter’s hand as she died in the hospital, her injuries leaving her unrecognizable.
Caroline’s statement reflected her deep anger and confusion: “I cannot think of the words I would want to say to Tony Curant. I am so full of anger I cannot describe. I want to know why you did this to my beautiful daughter. None of this makes any sense to me. I feel I am still living a nightmare but one I can never wake up from.”
Despite the reduction in his minimum term, Curant will remain in prison for at least 20 years before he is eligible for parole. If released, he will be on licence for the rest of his life.
