A mother of three recalls a horrific ordeal in which her partner of 11 years tried to kill her in a frenzied attack.
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 he did it.
In August 2022, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and assault.
Now the mother of three is speaking out to raise awareness of domestic violence.
Sarah Healey, (pictured) 51, from Bedworth, was stabbed by her partner of 11 years, Carl Aubertin, 39, and also had her throat slit in the frenzied attack
Fortunately, Sarah survived the attack, but Carl (pictured right) never revealed why he did it. Now the mother of three is speaking out to raise awareness of domestic violence
WARNING GRAPHICS: Sarah, an assembly machine operator, remembers the gruesome attack in great detail. She says Carl followed her into the bathroom and soon after felt a knife against her neck
Sarah, an assembly machine operator, says, “The emotional impact is far worse than the physical effects.
“I loved Carl and shared every moment of my life with him for eleven years.
“Apparently I didn’t know who he was and still don’t know why he tried to kill me that day.”
Sarah met Aubertin in 2010 through a mutual friend. From that moment on, the couple was inseparable.
Sarah explains, “Carl and I just clicked. He was funny and kind and I felt so safe with him.
‘He got on well with my three children and grandchildren, with whom we would go on camping holidays to Wales and Cornwall. Life was perfect.’
In April 2021, when Sarah’s family visited for the weekend, she was preparing a roast dinner in the kitchen while her granddaughter gave Carl a makeover.
WARNING GRAPHICS: Sarah says there was ‘blood everywhere’ during the frenzied and sustained attack as her granddaughter ‘screamed’ for him to stop
Sarah had to have several stitches in her hand after her partner of 11 years shocked and unprovoked attack
Sarah says the pair met in 2010, and immediately they “clicked” and were inseparable. She added that he was “funny” and she “felt so safe with him”
Sarah says, “When I started peeling the potatoes, Carl showed up in the kitchen and told me my granddaughter needed help in the bathroom.
“I went upstairs and Carl followed, but when we walked 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 kept silent and slit my throat instead.
“There was blood everywhere and my granddaughter was screaming for him to get off me.”
Sarah suffered severe stab wounds to her arms, hands and neck, and Carl severed a main artery in her shoulder, which could have been fatal
Aubertin proceeded to stab Sarah across her arms, shoulders and chest. She fell to the ground and used her hands to defend herself.
After a while, Aubertin dropped the knife and pushed Sarah’s granddaughter out of the room.
He left Sarah for dead on the bathroom floor and fled.
Sarah says, “I was in the most pain I’ve ever felt, but my only focus was making sure my granddaughter was safe.
“I wrapped my neck in a towel and crawled down.”
Fortunately, Sarah’s granddaughter was with her neighbors, who had gathered outside after hearing the commotion.
An ambulance was called and rushed Sarah to University Hospital Coventry.
Sarah had suffered serious stab wounds to her arms, hands and neck, and Aubertin had severed a main artery in her shoulder, which could have been fatal.
The next day, Sarah underwent a six-hour reconstructive surgery, during which surgeons placed 100 stitches in her hands and arms and 20 in her neck.
She recalls, “Both my arms were in splints, so I couldn’t do anything for myself, like eat or go to the bathroom.
“After three weeks in the hospital, I was discharged and moved to my daughter’s house so she could take care of me.
Sarah had physical therapy every week for months to get her hands moving again, and it took her a year to get back to work
“The police took a video statement from me, but I couldn’t tell them much because I had no idea why Carl attacked me.”
Sarah had physical therapy every week for months to get her hands moving again and it took her a year to get back to work.
Meanwhile, Aubertin was arrested and held in custody.
In August 2022, he was found guilty of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and assault.
He was sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment at Warwick Crown Court.
Sarah couldn’t face him, 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 doubt people’s intentions.
“Fortunately, my neck has healed well, but the scars on my hands and arms are a constant reminder of what I went through.
“But I refuse to let his attack stop me.”