Jail officer tells court defendant admitted knifing
CROWN MAKES CASE THAT MAN, 19, DIED AFTER PAIR STABBED HIM
MURDER accused Lyndsey Harper allegedly told a prison officer “We stabbed him but I’m pleading not guilty”, a court heard.
Prosecutors say Harper and Brian Cahill killed 19-year-old Owen Kerry on Christmas Eve in a social club in Cramlington, which they deny.
It is alleged Cahill struck the fatal blow but prosecutors claim it was a joint attack by the then-couple.
After being charged with murder, Harper was remanded in custody and was sent to Low Newton Prison, in County Durham.
Prison officer Melanie Allen told jurors Harper made comments to her on December 29 about the alleged attack.
Giving evidence on a video link from abroad, where she is on holiday, Miss Allen said: “Lyndsey Harper came out of the cell, walked towards me and said ‘Ee Miss Allen, I’m in for murder.’
“She was smirking and laughing when she said it.
“She said ‘It was both of us, really, but I’m just saying it was him. If you are going to do something do it properly.’
“She said, ‘We stabbed him but I’m pleading not guilty. **** that.’”
Harper’s barrister, Robert Woodcock QC, suggested the words used were actually: “Ee, Miss Allen, I’m in for murder. They have nicked both of us but it was him. I’m going not guilty. **** that.”
But Miss Allen replied: “I don’t recall the conversation like that, no.”
Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper carried out a post-mortem on Owen. He said: “My main finding was there was a stab wound lower down on the front of the abdomen which had damaged the main artery in the body, the aorta, causing heavy haemorrhaging and that was the cause of death.”
Dr Cooper said the wound ended as a small cut on the front of his spine.
The alleged murder weapon, a lock knife, was shown to the judge and jury.
The court heard the wound was around 20mm deeper than the length of the blade.
Dr Cooper said: “It not only went in to the hilt but squashed the tissue.”
The pathologist said it would have required “at least moderate force”.
Prosecutors say Owen was attacked at Cramlington Working Men’s Club on the night of December 24 and died around 12.20am on Christmas morning.
Cahill, 35, of Northern Terrace, Dudley and Harper, 36, of Queens Gardens, Annitsford, both North Tyneside, deny murder.
Harper further denies the alternative charge attempting to cause GBH with intent on Owen and performing acts intending to pervert the course of justice. She admits affray.
The trial continues.