Northfield stabbing: Former mental health nurse guilty of murder

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-28673207

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A former mental health nurse has been found guilty of stabbing her partner to death with a kitchen knife.

Barry Wilkins, 71, was stabbed eleven times at his flat in Norrington Road, Northfield, Birmingham, on 24 November.

After calling for an ambulance Susan Hughes, 48, was overheard by an emergency operator saying "I wish I had stabbed your throat, love".

She will return to Birmingham Crown Court to be sentenced for the murder on 3 October.

Mr Wilkins died in hospital on New Year's Eve.

Hughes, previously of Linley Grove, Kings Heath, used a kitchen knife with a 20cm blade to stab Mr Wilkins. She then threw the weapon out of a window before calling the ambulance.

After the hearing, Det Sgt Harry May, of West Midlands Police, said Mr Wilkins had been a generous man who had given Hughes "a roof over her head" and who died after a drunken argument turned violent.

"Whilst [Hughes] was attacking him, she called the 999 system and whilst on the phone she was heard attacking Barry physically and verbally abusing him," he said.

Mr Wilkins' sister, Linda Brewer, described him as "a lovely kind man".