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Woman 'killed in front of child' | Woman 'killed in front of child' |
(10 minutes later) | |
A Somerset man killed his lover by stabbing her 145 times at his home, a court has heard. | A Somerset man killed his lover by stabbing her 145 times at his home, a court has heard. |
The attack on Sharon Blair, 42, in Street last year, happened in front of one of her children, who made a 999 call in an attempt to save her mother. | The attack on Sharon Blair, 42, in Street last year, happened in front of one of her children, who made a 999 call in an attempt to save her mother. |
Jurors at Bristol Crown Court were told that Chris Jones, 54, of Orchard Road, Street, stabbed Ms Blair and then mutilated her body. He denies murder. | Jurors at Bristol Crown Court were told that Chris Jones, 54, of Orchard Road, Street, stabbed Ms Blair and then mutilated her body. He denies murder. |
The prosecution said Mr Jones would plead guilty to manslaughter. | The prosecution said Mr Jones would plead guilty to manslaughter. |
On Tuesday, the jury heard a five-minute recording of a 999 call that Ms Blair's 10-year-old daughter had made while the attack was taking place. | |
The prosecution said the tape contained desperate screams, the cries of the young girl and the shouts of the defendant. | The prosecution said the tape contained desperate screams, the cries of the young girl and the shouts of the defendant. |
Jealous rage | |
Prosecutor Paul Dunkels said Mr Jones had flown into a jealous rage on the night of the attack, and had stabbed Ms Blair with a total of six knives. | |
He said she suffered wounds to her face, scalp, neck, torso, arms and hands. | |
When police arrived at the house, they found Ms Blair dead on the kitchen floor, covered in blood. | |
Mr Dunkels said Mr Jones's defence would be that, at the time, he was suffering from an abnormality of mind which had reduced his mental responsibility. | |
Mr Jones, he said, accepted he had killed Ms Blair but would say that he was not guilty of murder. | |
The 10-year-old who called police had tried to alert someone to what was happening, but had abandoned the receiver. | |
'Help me' | |
Neighbours saw the youngster outside in her pyjamas and covered in blood. | |
She was shouting: "My mummy's been killed. He killed her. You have got to help me", the court heard. | |
She was also seen trying to coax her younger sister out of a ground floor window. | |
The court was told that when neighbours called at the house, Mr Jones told them: "She's dead. You'd better call the police. It's not my fault." | |
Later, when the police arrived, he told them: "I'm sorry. I'm responsible. Something terrible has happened." | |
Mr Jones blamed Ms Blair for initiating the attack, claiming she was drunk and had threatened him with a knife. | |
The prosecutor said no trace of drink or drugs had been found in Ms Blair's system and that Mr Jones's account was untrue. | |
The case continues. | The case continues. |
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