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A police officer who single-handily confronted an armed murderer has been awarded for her bravery as she recalled the chilling moment she witnessed the killer turn the knife on himself after
uttering the words - 'we all die together'. On August 5, 2023, Paul Cousans, 52, stabbed Kelli Bothwell, 53, twice in the back after a fight at their home on Main Street in the
village of Sprotbrough, near Doncaster. Police Officer Jessica Witton and her team were called to the brutal attack, on the understanding a woman had been stabbed and that Paul was inside
the property, but no one would answer the door. Thinking quickly, PC Witton ran round the back of the property and vaulted over a tall fence. Without waiting for backup, and with no Taser or
firearms support, she made her way into the back of the property alone. PC Witton recalled the moment she entered the house in gruesome detail. PC Witton said: “I opened the gate, and
Cousans was on the patio. He was on top of the woman, on his hands and knees. There was blood everywhere." When PC Witton tried to deescalate the attack, the killer coldly told her that
'We die together.' In an act of heroism, PC Witton tried to push the Couasans off of Kelli. In doing so, PC Witton realised Cousans had not only stabbed Kelli multiple times in
the back, but that he had also stabbed himself through the heart with a kitchen knife. PC Witton immediately let the other officers through the front door, asking them to grab a first aid
kit and directing them to put pressure on the Kelli's wounds. Desperate PC Witton said: “We were just trying to talk to her the whole time it was happening. I can remember saying, ‘get
him away from her - I don’t want him anywhere near her', while we were trying to save her. We were telling her that the ambulance was coming, that we were trying our best.” The officers
managed to keep the Kelli alive until an ambulance arrived, but sadly she died on her way to hospital. The killer was also taken to hospital but survived. Cousans was later arrested on
suspicion of murder and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 19 years. For her heroic service, PC Witton was awarded the South Yorkshire Police Federation 2025 Bravery Award. At the
trial, Judge Richardson KC praised PC Witton for saving the killers life: “You were faced with an extraordinarily difficult task, you took charge and performed with immense professionalism
and composure.” Kelli's daughter also thanked PC Witton for being with her mother at the end of her life. When she heard she had won the award, PC Witton said: “It’s kind of
bittersweet. I’m proud of what I did, but at the same time, I wish I’d been able to save her life. It is my job to do this, and I’d do it over and over again, without even thinking about it.
It’s what I come to work for, to help people.” South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: “Police officers are used to distressing scenes; this was far beyond that. But
despite the extraordinarily difficult circumstances, Jess remained calm, taking immediate control and acting quickly and decisively to confront the killer, carry out first aid, ensure
officer safety and preserve evidence. “It was police work of the highest order. We are very proud of her. And she is a very worthy winner of our overall award.” Steve added: “Our thoughts
remain with the victim’s family.” PC Witton attended the 2025 South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday, May 22. She has been announced as the overall winner and will
travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July. _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING SOUTH YORKSHIRE NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX BY __SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
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