Woman ‘stabbed partner to death in self defence’
A WOMAN accused of murdering her partner in Edgeley says she was defending herself and her son, a court heard.
Police were called to Ash Street on October 24 last year where they found 45-year-old Jason Capper suffering from stab wounds.
He was taken to hospital, but later died from his injuries.
Lisa Withers, 49, is accused of his murder and her trial began at Manchester Crown Court yesterday.
Paul Reid QC, prosecuting, said she armed herself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Jason Capper, with whom she had been in a relationship for around four years, seven times. Her son described their relationship as ‘volatile’, and the two of them drank heavily.
It is alleged that as she stabbed Mr Capper Miss Withers said ‘that will be the last time you raise your hand to my kids and me’.
AWOMAN accused of murdering her partner in Edgeley says she was defending herself and her son, a court heard.
Police were called to Ash Street at 9pm on October 24 last year where they found 45-year-old Jason Capper suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, but passed away from his injuries a short time later.
Lisa Withers, 49, is accused of his murder, and her trial began at Manchester Crown Court yesterday.
Paul Reid QC, prosecuting, said that on October 24 Lisa Withers armed herself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Jason Capper, with whom she had been in a relationship for around four years, seven times.
Her son Christopher, who called the ambulance, described their relationship as ‘volatile,’ with the two of them drinking heavily and daily, it was said.
The court heard that Mr Capper had gone to buy drinks, and on his return got into a scuffle with Christopher in the street, which ended up with Mr Capper on top of him trying to punch him.
Miss Withers pushed him off her son, and it is alleged that it was at this point that she stabbed him, saying ‘that will be the last time you hurt my kids, raise your hand to my kids and me, I’ve had enough of it.’
The prosecution alleges that she was seen by witnesses continuing to assault Mr Capper, even after he had stopped fighting with Christopher.
The pathologist Charles Wilson concluded that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds, six to the upper back and one between the left side of the neck and the top of the collarbone, causing his lung to collapse.
Miss Withers was interviewed under caution on October 25 and 26, and said on the day of the stabbing they had been drinking together when Mr Capper became violent, at one stage grabbing her throat.
She said that when she hit Mr Capper she both forgot the knife was in her hand and thought the handle end had been pointed towards him.
She told officers: “Everything he’s done to me over the last couple of years has snapped in my head and I’ve just lost the plot.”
Mr Reid said: “The prosecution say self-defence does not arise in this case, she chose to intervene in a struggle between two unarmed men using a knife, her intervention was unnecessary, and the force she used wholly unreasonable.” »»The trial continues.