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| Woman accused of Sadie Hartley murder denies killing | Woman accused of Sadie Hartley murder denies killing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman accused of murdering a love rival using a stun gun in an “orgy of violence” has told a court she did not do it. | A woman accused of murdering a love rival using a stun gun in an “orgy of violence” has told a court she did not do it. |
| Sarah Williams, 35, is on trial for the murder of businesswoman Sadie Hartley, 60, who the prosecution allege she killed after former boyfriend Ian Johnston ended their relationship. | |
| Williams, wearing a dark suit, sipped water as she gave evidence in the witness box, watched closely by Hartley’s two children, Charlotte, 22, and Harry, 23, who were sitting in the public gallery at Preston crown court. | Williams, wearing a dark suit, sipped water as she gave evidence in the witness box, watched closely by Hartley’s two children, Charlotte, 22, and Harry, 23, who were sitting in the public gallery at Preston crown court. |
| She is accused of plotting to kill Hartley for 17 months with co-accused Katrina Walsh, 56, after becoming “obsessed” with ex-fireman Johnston, 57, who was in a relationship with the victim. | She is accused of plotting to kill Hartley for 17 months with co-accused Katrina Walsh, 56, after becoming “obsessed” with ex-fireman Johnston, 57, who was in a relationship with the victim. |
| The prosecution allege that on 14 January, Williams, who at the time was a “kept woman” with a wealthy “sugar daddy” boyfriend twice her age, turned up at the house Johnston and Hartley shared in the village of Helmshore, Lancashire, while Johnston was abroad skiing. | |
| When Hartley answered the door, Williams allegedly attacked her with “demonic savagery”, using a 500,000-volt stun gun to paralyse her before stabbing her 40 times. | When Hartley answered the door, Williams allegedly attacked her with “demonic savagery”, using a 500,000-volt stun gun to paralyse her before stabbing her 40 times. |
| The defendant and Walsh, both from Chester, deny the murder. | |
| Gordon Cole QC, defending Williams, warned the defendant she would be in the witness box “for some time” as he began questioning her on Wednesday. | Gordon Cole QC, defending Williams, warned the defendant she would be in the witness box “for some time” as he began questioning her on Wednesday. |
| Addressing Williams, Cole said: “Have you ever given evidence in court before? Have you ever been in trouble before? Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence before?” | Addressing Williams, Cole said: “Have you ever given evidence in court before? Have you ever been in trouble before? Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence before?” |
| The defendant replied “no” to each question. | The defendant replied “no” to each question. |
| The lawyer then asked: “Did you kill Sadie Hartley?” | The lawyer then asked: “Did you kill Sadie Hartley?” |
| Williams replied: “No.” | Williams replied: “No.” |
| Williams, a ski holiday firm sales adviser, met Johnston on the slopes at the Chill Factore, an artificial slope in Manchester, where they both enjoyed skiing. | Williams, a ski holiday firm sales adviser, met Johnston on the slopes at the Chill Factore, an artificial slope in Manchester, where they both enjoyed skiing. |
| Text exchanges turned “flirty” and Williams later turned up at his house wearing a short skirt and red high heels, and the relationship quickly became sexual. | Text exchanges turned “flirty” and Williams later turned up at his house wearing a short skirt and red high heels, and the relationship quickly became sexual. |
| The jury has heard that Johnston ended the “heavy” relationship with “clingy” Williams after she became obsessed with him and started a new relationship with Hartley – though sex with the defendant continued. | The jury has heard that Johnston ended the “heavy” relationship with “clingy” Williams after she became obsessed with him and started a new relationship with Hartley – though sex with the defendant continued. |
| Williams, who described herself to friends as a “She-Devil” and “psycho”, and whom friends described as a “bunny boiler”, called Hartley a “bitch” and sent her a “spiteful” letter telling of the “fantastic” sex she was having with her boyfriend. | Williams, who described herself to friends as a “She-Devil” and “psycho”, and whom friends described as a “bunny boiler”, called Hartley a “bitch” and sent her a “spiteful” letter telling of the “fantastic” sex she was having with her boyfriend. |
| Cole on Wednesday asked Williams to describe her “general character”. The witness replied: “I’m quite easy-going, I can get on with people relatively easily.” | Cole on Wednesday asked Williams to describe her “general character”. The witness replied: “I’m quite easy-going, I can get on with people relatively easily.” |
| Cole continued: “How about aggressive? Saying things about people?” | Cole continued: “How about aggressive? Saying things about people?” |
| “No, I would not say I’m aggressive at all,” the defendant replied. | “No, I would not say I’m aggressive at all,” the defendant replied. |
| Cole said: “Use of the word ‘bitch’?” Williams replied: “Yes. It’s in my vocabulary if I’m being critical.” | Cole said: “Use of the word ‘bitch’?” Williams replied: “Yes. It’s in my vocabulary if I’m being critical.” |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |