Lover guilty of stabbing murder

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/somerset/6244858.stm

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A man who stabbed his former lover more than 140 times in front of her 10-year-old daughter has been found guilty of her murder.

Sharon Blair, 42, of Walsall, was killed by Christopher Jones at his home in Street, Somerset, last April.

Jones, 54, had admitted manslaughter, claiming he acted in self-defence after Ms Blair started attacking him. He had denied murder.

He will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court later.

Ms Blair's 10-year-old daughter begged Jones to stop after being woken up by screaming, the court heard.

She was running around shouting 'My mummy has been killed - she has been stabbed' Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC

She then called police before leading her brother and sister, both six, to safety, the court has heard.

In the 13-minute 999 call played to the jury, the girl screamed, "Mummy!" and cried "Why are you stabbing mummy?".

The girl ran out of the house in her pyjamas to raise the alarm.

Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC told the jury: "She was running around shouting, "My mummy has been killed - she has been stabbed. You have got to help her".

'Horrific attack'

Acting Det Ch Insp Lynne Thorne, of Avon and Somerset Police, said the girl was being cared for by family members and had been receiving support from counsellors.

"She's receiving incredible support from her family and other professionals, but quite clearly it was an horrific attack," she said.

Six knives were used in the attack.

Mr Dunkels said: "Jones slashed her with serrated knives so she suffered mutilating wounds to her face, scalp, torso, arms and hands."