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Wife guilty of anti-freeze plot | Wife guilty of anti-freeze plot |
(11 minutes later) | |
A woman has been found guilty of trying to kill her husband by slipping anti-freeze into his wine. | A woman has been found guilty of trying to kill her husband by slipping anti-freeze into his wine. |
A jury at Stafford Crown Court found Kate Knight, 28, guilty of the attempted murder of husband Lee at their home in Stoke-on-Trent in 2005. | A jury at Stafford Crown Court found Kate Knight, 28, guilty of the attempted murder of husband Lee at their home in Stoke-on-Trent in 2005. |
Mr Knight, a 37-year-old factory worker, suffered kidney failure and brain damage after his wife put the substance in red wine and a curry. | Mr Knight, a 37-year-old factory worker, suffered kidney failure and brain damage after his wife put the substance in red wine and a curry. |
After the hearing, he said his wife's actions had ruined his life. | |
Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date. | Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date. |
Over the three-week trial the jury heard how Knight plotted to poison her husband, who worked for JCB, in order to collect a £130,000 pay-out from his employer and clear debts. | Over the three-week trial the jury heard how Knight plotted to poison her husband, who worked for JCB, in order to collect a £130,000 pay-out from his employer and clear debts. |
'Ruined life' | |
Mr Knight, who lives with his parents and the couple's nine-year-old son Jack, said Mrs Knight "ruined my life". | |
In a statement, Mr Knight said: "It has been very stressful. I realised that my wife had left me. I lost my job, my house, everything I worked for and, worst of all, my son. | |
"I have hardly any independence anymore - I need to have somebody with me all the time. I don't think I'll ever be able to work again." | |
He added that what his wife had done would have a big effect on their son's future. | |
Knight, formerly of Waterdale Grove, Meir Hay, had denied attempted murder and also forging her husband's signature on loan and mortgage application forms. | |
Anniversary meal | Anniversary meal |
During the trial Mr Knight gave evidence, supported in court by two hearing specialists, after being left partially deaf by the poisoning. | During the trial Mr Knight gave evidence, supported in court by two hearing specialists, after being left partially deaf by the poisoning. |
He now wears two hearing aids after regaining some level of hearing after a recent operation. | He now wears two hearing aids after regaining some level of hearing after a recent operation. |
The court heard how he had known nothing about any anti-freeze being kept in the house and was not aware of two large loans his wife had taken out. | The court heard how he had known nothing about any anti-freeze being kept in the house and was not aware of two large loans his wife had taken out. |
On the eve of the couple's seventh wedding anniversary, Knight cooked her husband a curry and served him red wine - both of which had been laced with ethylene glycol, the chemical name for anti-freeze. | On the eve of the couple's seventh wedding anniversary, Knight cooked her husband a curry and served him red wine - both of which had been laced with ethylene glycol, the chemical name for anti-freeze. |
'Hiring a hitman' | 'Hiring a hitman' |
The jury also heard over the course of the trial how Knight had used internet search engines to find a method of killing, settling on anti-freeze after ruling out ecstasy or an iron overdose. | The jury also heard over the course of the trial how Knight had used internet search engines to find a method of killing, settling on anti-freeze after ruling out ecstasy or an iron overdose. |
Knight's neighbour Sarah Johnson, 28, told the court how the accused had sought her advice on hiring a hitman. | Knight's neighbour Sarah Johnson, 28, told the court how the accused had sought her advice on hiring a hitman. |
Miss Johnson said her neighbour had mentioned paying £50,000 to get "somebody to do the job". | Miss Johnson said her neighbour had mentioned paying £50,000 to get "somebody to do the job". |
Under cross examination, Knight blamed her husband's near-fatal health problems on drinking too much alcohol. | Under cross examination, Knight blamed her husband's near-fatal health problems on drinking too much alcohol. |
The couple had known each other for three years before getting married. | The couple had known each other for three years before getting married. |