Born in United Kingdom · Nationality British — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases

Joanna Dennehy

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “Escape plan involving prison officer's finger and litigation over isolation” and “Guilty pleas and whole-life order”.

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Profile No. 2342 · Updated on 12 October 2026

9Documented controversies

8Sources

2 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2013-2016

Escape plan involving prison officer's finger and litigation over isolation

Civil / administrative proceedings

While on remand, a written plan found in her cell envisaged killing or seriously injuring a prison officer, taking her keys and using a severed finger to defeat biometric systems. Dennehy was held in segregation for an extended period and later sought damages.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
ITV NewsMurderer Dennehy plotted to 'kill prison guard and use her finger prints'MediaHigh reliability
[2]
ITV NewsSerial killer Joanna Dennehy loses human rights violations claimMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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Case · 6 documented stages

Guilty pleas and whole-life order

Conviction

21 November 2013-28 February 2014

Guilty pleas and whole-life order

Conviction

Dennehy pleaded guilty to three murders, two attempted murders and offences involving the bodies. In February 2014, the Old Bailey imposed life imprisonment with no normal possibility of release.

Attribution: Accused

Sources · 2

[1]
Judiciary of England and WalesThe Queen v Dennehy and others - sentencing remarksCourt recordVery high reliability
[2]
ITV NewsSerial killer Joanna Dennehy given whole-life jail termMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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19 March 2013

Murder of Łukasz Slaboszewski

Conviction

Dennehy lured Łukasz Slaboszewski to a property in Peterborough and fatally stabbed him in the heart with a pocketknife.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Judiciary of England and WalesThe Queen v Dennehy and others - sentencing remarksCourt recordVery high reliability
[2]
The GuardianMurder spree left Joanna Dennehy 'stinking of blood'MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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28 March 2013

Murder of John Chapman

Conviction

John Chapman, her housemate, was stabbed to death by Dennehy in Peterborough. His body was subsequently concealed and found in a ditch.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Judiciary of England and WalesThe Queen v Dennehy and others - sentencing remarksCourt recordVery high reliability
[2]
ITV NewsSerial killer Joanna Dennehy given whole-life jail termMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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29 March 2013

Murder of Kevin Lee

Conviction

Dennehy stabbed her landlord and employer Kevin Lee to death. His body was abandoned in a ditch in a deliberately humiliating position.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Judiciary of England and WalesThe Queen v Dennehy and others - sentencing remarksCourt recordVery high reliability
[2]
ITV NewsTriple murderer sentenced to life in prisonMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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2 April 2013

Attempted murder of Robin Bereza in Hereford

Conviction

After leaving Peterborough, Dennehy randomly selected pedestrian Robin Bereza in Hereford and stabbed him repeatedly. He survived.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The GuardianJoanna Dennehy 'just wanted blood', court toldMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Judiciary of England and WalesThe Queen v Dennehy and others - sentencing remarksCourt recordVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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2 April 2013

Attempted murder of John Rogers in Hereford

Conviction

Moments after attacking Bereza, Dennehy stabbed another randomly selected pedestrian, John Rogers. He too survived serious injuries.

Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Judiciary of England and WalesThe Queen v Dennehy and others - sentencing remarksCourt recordVery high reliability
[2]
The GuardianMurder spree left Joanna Dennehy 'stinking of blood'MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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March-April 2013

Concealment of three bodies and offences concerning lawful burial

No legal proceedings

After the three murders, the bodies were transported and abandoned in ditches around Peterborough. Dennehy also pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of her victims.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ITV NewsSerial killer Joanna Dennehy given whole-life jail termMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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2012

Previous convictions for assault and keeping a dangerous dog

Conviction

Before the 2013 murders, Joanna Dennehy had been convicted of assault and keeping a dangerous dog and was subject to a twelve-month community order. She also had previous convictions for theft and drug-related offences.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianJoanna Dennehy was on probation at time of murdersMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

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