I didn't kill boyfriend insists ex-lover
A woman accused of stabbing her ex-boyfriend to death has denied a new charge of manslaughter after murder was ruled out.
Nicola Coleman made 20 stabbing motions with a kitchen knife towards former lover Mark Cannon, 13 of which inflicted injuries to his face, the court heard.
Psychiatrists have diagnosed 42-year-old Coleman with schizophrenia and His Honour Judge Simon Tonking has since ruled out the original charge of murder, concluding she had diminished responsibility at the time of Mr Cannon's death seven years ago.
Coleman has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and claims she acted in self defence during the fight which happened at her former home in Burwaye Close, Lichfield, on September 29, 2008.
At Stafford Crown Court yesterday, prosecutor Miss Rachel Brand QC disputed the self-defence line, claiming Coleman had premeditated the attack because she had invited 44-year-old Mr Cannon to the flat on the day and had only bought the knife just days before.
Miss Brand said that the victim suffered 13 cuts to his face, a fatal stab wound to the chest as well as at least half a dozen slashes to his torso.
The prosecutor then said the defendant's actions afterwards showed all the hallmarks of someone 'realising they had gone too far and trying to get out of trouble'.
She added: "All of this paints a picture that this was not self defence at all. She attacked him plain and simple. Even if you think this might have started with the knife in his hand, with 20 separate motions of this knife, that force could not possibly be described as reasonable."
In response, Mr John Butterfield QC, defending, branded the argument that Coleman pre-planned the attack as 'ridiculous' arguing the knife had been bought as part of a 'mundane' shopping list and claiming the victim needed no invitation to go round to the flat. He pointed out that Mr Cannon had smoked cannabis on the day, which usually made him violent, and he had been jealous of Coleman's relationship with her neighbour.
He said: "Mark Cannon was going downhill and was wresting with the thought of ending his own life. He was far more likely to initiate life-threatening violence than someone who was far happier and in love."
The trial continues.
