Woman stabbed love rival to death

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8021493.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A woman has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of stabbing her love rival to death.

Karla Biddle, 32, of Aldbury Road, Yardley Wood, Birmingham, was cleared of murder on the grounds of provocation but convicted of manslaughter.

Warwick Crown Court heard she killed Emma Bradshaw, 30, last May after the two women argued about Ashley Watson, at his Solihull home.

He said he loved both women and could not break up with either of them.

'Successful young woman'

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones described the case as an "absolute tragedy" in which there were "only losers".

He told Biddle: "You were a respectable, intelligent and successful young woman.

Emma Bradshaw died after being stabbed by Biddle

"I accept that your relationship with the man concerned had ground you down emotionally.

"The uncertainty of his fidelity and commitment to you, and your love for him had caused you a great deal of pain and anxiety which was clearly reflected in perfectly reasonable and understandable inquiries to find out where the truth lay.

"It is also a tragedy because your rival in love was also a thoroughly decent and valuable woman."

The jury was told Biddle and Mr Watson had met at school and had been a couple since about 1993.

Love triangle

They bought a house together in 2002 and were engaged the following year but the wedding plans were put on hold as cracks appeared in their relationship.

Mr Watson moved out in 2007 after meeting Miss Bradshaw but the jury was told he continued to sleep with Biddle as well.

The judge said he had concluded from the jury's verdict that Miss Bradshaw, a veterinary nurse from Sutton Coldfield, had produced the knife.

He said Miss Bradshaw had used the blade to warn Biddle to "go away" and cease her "persistent efforts" to talk about the love triangle.

He added: "There was a struggle. You must have gained possession of the knife and you, having lost your self-control, then used the knife a large number of times."

The court heard Miss Bradshaw suffered more than 50 wounds in the struggle, including two stab wounds to the abdomen.

She died shortly after in hospital.

In a statement read outside court, Miss Bradshaw's family said: "We accept the court's decision, seeking no retribution nor revenge which would interfere with the blessings we have had during the life of our wonderful daughter Emma."