Callum Wheeler, 22, was convicted of her murder at Canterbury Crown Court in May, with jurors taking just over an hour to reach a verdict. Ms James was off duty on the evening of April 27 last year when she was killed by Wheeler, who attacked her with a jack, a tool used to lift rails, causing “catastrophic injuries”. The incident happened as she was walking her dog in fields and woodland near the back of her home in Snowtown, Kent. Her husband, Paul James, broke down while speaking outside court. She said it was a “massive relief” that Wheeler would be behind bars for such a long time and could not harm any other women. “If that was Julia’s sacrifice – to save other people – then we’re happy,” he said. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 3:23 Julia James’ family pays tribute to her Mr James also gave an emotional statement in court, saying: “My life finally came full circle when I married my soul mate.” When his wife was murdered, “my hopes and dreams were confiscated,” he said. “Actually I felt like I died too.” James’ daughter Bethan Coles said the family “will live with it every day” and that it is “for life” for them. Wheeler had no relationship with Mrs James, 53, who had two children, and gave no explanation for beating her to death when questioned by police. Mrs James had seen Wheeler three times at Ackholt Wood in the months before her death. He was seen roaming the countryside by witnesses with the gun the day before he murdered Ms James. Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, said Ms James was subjected to a “violent and fatal attack” as she fell to the ground while fleeing her attacker, adding: “This was a sexually motivated murder.” Image: Callum Wheeler in a field near Ackholt Wood. Photo: CPS Wheeler told officers “sometimes I do things I can’t control” and “you can’t go into the woods and expect to be safe.” Ms Morgan added that the killer was “waiting in the bushes” for the “highly respected” Mrs James, who made a “desperate attempt to flee”. He told a member of the police staff that he would go back to the woods and rape and kill a woman and that Mrs James deserved to die. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 37 years by Mr Justice Wall, who told him: “The attack you launched on her was brutal and vicious.” The judge said: “It was an attack which, combined with other similar offenses reported in the press in the recent past, caused understandable fear and concern to members of the public who may find themselves in a similar vulnerable position to that found by Ms James. herself that day.”
