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Leeds: ‘Woman asked child for murder knife’
A woman accused of murdering her best friend’s boyfriend asked a child where she could find a knife moments before the attack, a court heard.
The youngster gave evidence at the trial of at Leeds Crown Court yesterday and a jury was shown a recording of her describing the attack to police
Janine Birch, 43, is accused of murdering Martin Wheelhouse by stabbing him in an attack at a house on Portland Road, Wortley, on August 16 last year.
Describing the moments before the stabbing, the young girl said: “Janine said ‘do you know where the knives are’ but I said ‘yes, but I don’t want to tell you because you could proper hurt somebody.”
She added: “Then she had a knife in her hand and she stabbed him.”
The girl also described how Birch had earlier punched Mr Wheelhouse twice and he had hit her back during a confrontation between the pair.
The trial has heard how the incident took place shortly after Mr Wheelhouse went round to the house to see his girlfriend Alexine Cowell.
Miss Cowell had allowed Birch to come and stay at her home the day before the incident.
The court has heard a recording of a 999 call made by Miss Cowell in which Birch can apparently be heard shouting threats at Mr Wheelhouse as he lay on the kitchen floor of the property suffering from a stab wound to the chest.
It is alleged Birch then ate a piece of corn on the cob and kicked and stamped on Mr Wheelhouse as he lay fatally injured while Miss Cowell was trying to administer first aid.
The youngster said: “She dropped the knife. Then she like got a piece of corn and was standing on him and more blood squirted out.”
Birch denies murder and claims she acted in self defence.
The court has heard Mr Wheelhouse was in a relationship with Miss Cowell and would visit her home regularly but did not get on with Birch. The pair had previously argued with each other.
The jury has also been told Birch and Miss Cowell had been drinking cider earlier in the day.
Wr Wheelhouse arrived at the house when Birch had gone to bed but awoke when she heard his voice.
Birch and Mr Wheelhouse, who was carrying a rucksack and a hockey stick, then had an argument in the kitchen. Miss Cowell got between them and pushed her boyfriend outside to prevent any trouble.
Miss Cowell has described how birch then went to the back door and swung her arm at Mr Wheelhouse in a “jabbing motion” before seeing her holding a knife.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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