Murder accused: Mother found stabbed at doctor's surgery 'killed herself'

Blood stained Tina Billingham was 'dragged' from the van in which they had been travelling into her doctor's surgery by Ronald Cooke, 55, whom she had lived with for over 15 years, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 54-year-old had been stabbed twice, through the heart and liver, and was close to death, revealed Miss Rachel Brand, QC, prosecuting.

Staff at Rowley Healthcare in Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis tried to save her as he insisted the fatal wounds were self inflicted.

Miss Brand maintained: "This was a lie and, as she lay dying, he was hoping to escape the consequences of what he had done."

The deadly blows were struck in the van shortly after the couple left their home in Granville Road, Old Hill on February 6, it was said.

Cooke, who, like his partner, had two children from an earlier relationship, had a history of aggressive, destructive behaviour and had been violent towards her previously, it was alleged.

On the day she died he was in an 'argumentative and angry state of mind,' according to a neighbour who later heard him shout 'get in the van' before his partner followed him into the vehicle.

He drove away from their home around 3.30pm, approximately 20 minutes before she arrived grievously injured at the doctor's surgery and was later certified dead at hospital, the court heard.

Cooke, who had a 'fascination' with bladed articles like knives, swords and bayonets, kept the sword stick in his van and admitted the couple had argued, alleged Miss Brand.

He told police he put the weapon on the van seat and said 'go on then' after his partner declared: 'If I had a knife I would kill myself,' it was claimed.

The defendant then allegedly continued: 'The next thing I was aware of, she was holding the knife to her stomach. I didn't actually see her stab herself because I was driving." He maintained she then silently put the weapon back in its sheath and slumped forward soon afterwards.

Police who recreated Miss Billingham's final journey with footage from CCTV cameras on the route and discovered he had failed to mention stopping the vehicle twice - once for three minutes near Old Hill Station, said Miss Brand who added this was likely to have been when she was stabbed.

The QC told the jury: "Was this a case of a woman overcome by an impetuous need to stab herself? We say you will be driven to the conclusion that an aggressive and violent man stabbed her in anger, murdered her and tried to get away with it."

Cooke denied murder and the case continues.