Diary entries detail excitement at ‘perfect murder,’ trial hears

THE ‘perfect murder’ was planned in the diary of Katrina Walsh as she plotted to help kill Sarah Williams’ love rival, the court heard.

The ‘extraordinarily revealing document’ seized by detectives, showed how the pair, both from Chester, planned the ‘assassination’ of 60-yearold Sadie Hartley, who was stabbed to death in an “orgy of violence” on the doorstep of her £500,000 home in Helmshore last January 14.

Jealous Ms Williams, 35, was ‘obsessed’ with her ex, Ian Johnston, 57, who had begun a new life with businesswoman Ms Hartley, Preston Crown Court heard.

Ms Walsh wrote in her diary, 17 months before the crime: “Sarah came round so got caught up in endless murder plots for Ian’s other half.”

And in June last year she wrote: “Seriously talking of getting rid of her opponent... she does seem to be a totally evil bitch.”

Two months later, Williams attempted to recruit Ms Walsh’s ex-husband Kevin to her cause and use his “skill set”, it was claimed.

Ms Walsh wrote: “Wow, I may get to be instrumental in helping remove the awful woman! This may happen. Wow! Am unexpectedly excited by it. Was buzzing so much I needed a Southern Comfort to wind down a bit.”

But after her ex declined to get involved in anything “dodgy”, Ms Walsh went on to write: “Plan B will be needed ... I have no moral qualms, just a serious don’t let us get caught twinge.”

In September 2015, Walsh refers in her diary to thoughts of “a hit” on a motorcycle. The entry read: “Fortunately Sarah’s had an idea that would spare me the anxiety as she things (sic) of just riding on a motorcycle, killing and leaving said floosie and riding off.

“I just have to clandestinely train Sarah to ride a bike and store said bike.”

She also wrote of using an Isis flag “to mislead the investigation too, I’m much more into that.”

In December 2015, the pair took a ferry from Hull to Rotterdam and then to Darmstadt, Germany, where they bought a stun gun, the court heard.

The hearing was told that in her diary, Ms Walsh wrote: “I said no matter what her way of testing the bitch, then she could do with that zapper or she risks being injured herself. So will get a trip to Germany out of this. Took ages to wind down, all the excitement of plotting the perfect murder!” The trial continues.