Binge on drink and drugs on night of stabbings

year they moved with her daughter Nateesha, then 25, and her 10year-old son to a new home together in Greenlea Court.

Her daughter told police there had been few arguments between the couple but none were serious and Minott tended to end up crying afterwards.

On the evening of February 22 when Nateesha returned home she thought everything was all right and went upstairs to her bedroom.

But unknown to her Minott later admitted he had been arguing with Beverley a lot that day.

Mr Sharp said: “He had also been drinking and that night he says he had downed half a bottle of brandy.”

Mr Sharp said Minott had smoked cannabis throughout the day and had also taken Ecstasy and cocaine.

He added: “In one word, he was intoxicated and it was in that state the Crown say because of his condition he began his attack on Beverley Robinson.”

Minott claimed she was having a go at him in their bedroom around 2.15am and that she picked up a knife he had used to peel an apple and stabbed at him. Minott said he grabbed it from her and began stabbing her.

Nateesha, woken by her mother’s screams, saw her running downstairs with blood on her white dressing gown. Minott followed and in the hallway she saw him stabbing her mother repeatedly in the stomach.

Only 4ft 9ins tall, Beverley was up against the wall and he was standing over her with her shouting “please stop.”

Nateesha also shouted at him and his reaction was to turn on her. She was stabbed through the hand which she had put out to protect herself and then to the stomach.

Both women went into the dining room slipping on their blood. They only escaped to a neighbour’s home for help when Minott was distracted by Beverley’s son appearing holding a phone and Minott going to him, telling him to hand it over.

Mr Sharp said the neighbours rang for help. Beverley was in pain and slipping in and out of consciousness. Both were taken to Leeds General Infirmary where Nateesha spent five days but her mother did not survive wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen, having suffered severe internal injuries.

Minott had broken two knives during the attack.

Richard Wright QC, defending, said Minott was a man with no previous convictions and his actions were out of character in an otherwise loving relationship.

The trial continues.