Keelen Turner, a 24-year-old carpenter from Llangunnor, broke a man's jaw in two places during a night out at Savannah's nightclub in Carmarthen. The victim spent days in hospital after undergoing surgery to repair the fractures.
Attack at Savannah's Nightclub
The incident occurred on August 3 at Savannah's nightclub on Lammas Street in Carmarthen town centre. The victim was socialising with work colleagues when he saw a former partner with Turner and smiled at her, leading to a brief exchange of words. Later, the victim sat down to talk to his ex, and when Turner approached, the victim asked him to leave them alone. Turner became annoyed, pacing back and forth, and was led away by a man standing nearby. However, Turner returned and struck the victim across the face with an open palm, causing the double jaw fracture. Security staff intervened and led Turner away.
Hospitalisation and Surgery
The victim was taken to Morriston Hospital, where X-rays revealed fractures to both sides of his jaw. He was referred to the maxillofacial unit for surgery and was discharged on August 7, the same day Turner was arrested. In his police interview, Turner provided a prepared statement claiming self-defence, but later pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm. He had one previous conviction for driving under the influence of cannabis.
Sentencing
Appearing at Swansea Crown Court, Turner was sentenced by Judge Geraint Walters. The judge noted that young men must understand that 'throwing their weight around in immature ways' can have life-changing consequences. Turner received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course. The sentence reflected a one-third discount for his guilty plea.
Mitigation and Remorse
Hannah George, defending Turner, described the incident as 'impulsive and spontaneous'. She said Turner had texted the victim and his father to apologise. The court heard that Turner was still dealing with the bereavement of his mother, who died in 2012 in tragic circumstances, and that he was remorseful and had always tried to better himself.
