Tesco worker guilty over stab attack on ex-lover

A 53-year-old Tesco worker did try to murder her ex-lover when she plunged a knife into him three times on her birthday, a jury has decided.

Gillian McKenzie, who had denied the offence, had told officers she was fed up with former boyfriend Jonathan Ingham “bleating” about his miserable life.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court took two hours to reject her claim that she hadn’t intended to kill him during the drunken attack at her home in Hunter Avenue, Willesborough.

But after adjourning sentence for reports, Judge James O’Mahony told her: “Sorry for using Latin ... but ‘in vino veritas’... in wine people speak the truth. You knew what you were saying and you knew what you were doing.”

Mr Ingham had been listening to Radio 2, when McKenzie stabbed him with a seven-inch kitchen knife, a jury heard.

She later told police: “He had to die... he couldn’t live like that anymore. I tried to kill him and put him out of his misery.” White-haired McKenzie has now been remanded in custody Judge James O’Mahony said Gillian McKenzie had known what she was doing during the drunken attack in Hunter Avenue, Willesborough awaiting sentence, probably in Mr Ingham would go to McKenOctober. zie’s home for a meal – “but it

Prosecutor Simon Taylor told would appear she wanted this the jury how the couple had arrangement to come to an end.” been in a relationship for nine On March 23, Mr Ingham, who years which came to an end had been living in a car and at last year although they had a Tenterden scrapyard, had remained friends. arrived at the house at 8.30pm

He told the jury: “She stabbed and McKenzie had already been him and she did so intending to drinking. kill him and she said as much as The couple watched TV and she was stabbing him. It is only drank some more wine before mere good fortune she didn’t Mr Ingham went to take some succeed.” Mr Taylor said that painkillers for a foot ailment. He told how she snatched them away before going into the kitchen and returning with a knife and stabbing him three times.

McKenzie told him: “You are going to have this. I am going to put you out of your misery. I’m going to kill you.”

She later revealed: “I told him not to come over or we would end up arguing. I just wanted him to stay away and leave me alone. He’s better off dead.” DC Scott Ennals said: “Gillian McKenzie and her victim clearly had their issues with one another and we may never know what went on in the moments leading up to this incident.

“What is clear is that she intended to stab him and that she admitted to officers who attended the scene that she wanted to put him out of his misery.

“She therefore clearly posed a significant danger to him and potentially other members of the public, meaning prison is the best place for her at this time.

“Most people in relationships have problems and disagreements from time to time but violence is never the answer.

“Kent Police offers a range of support to victims of domestic abuse, or you can visit www. domesticabuseservices.org. uk to speak to someone other than a police officer.”