Woman ‘sent sex act photo that drove her lover to kill his rival’
A JEALOUS boyfriend took fatal revenge when his girlfriend sent him an explicit picture of herself engaged in a sex act with his love rival, a court heard yesterday.
Storming round to her home, stabbed his rival in the heart.
David Saunders, 33, is alleged to have flown into a “jealous rage” when he got the image of Sarah Bramley with Michael Lawson on his phone.
He took a taxi to near her home in Darlington and waited for Mr Lawson before stabbing him to death with a knife.
Saunders, of Darlington, admitted murder at Teesside Crown Court on Monday but faces a mini-trial in front of only a judge because he disputes claims he took the weapon to the scene on July 1. He claims he grabbed the knife from his victim.
Judge Stephen Ashurst must now determine whether he took the weapon or not and the degree of his “culpability”. Prosecutor Nick Dry he said: “Both the defendant and Michael Lawson had been involved in an on-off relationship with Sarah Bramley. This led to jealousy on the part of Saunders.”
The court was told Miss Bramley was already exchanging messages with Saunders on the night when she sent the photo.
Mr Dry said: “It is the Crown’s case the defendant travelled down armed and in a jealous rage to make good the threats he had issued.
“CCTV supports that contention as opposed to his claim he only intended to damage Mr Lawson’s car and happened upon him by accident.” The footage captures Mr Lawson attempting to run away from his attacker but he trips and is attacked.
Despite admitting murder, Saunders told the court: “I stabbed him but I didn’t intend to kill him.”
The hearing continues.