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Chatham car park stabbing: Molly McLaren killed 'in frenzied attack' | Chatham car park stabbing: Molly McLaren killed 'in frenzied attack' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a "frenzied" attack after begging her to get back together with him, a court has heard. | A man stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a "frenzied" attack after begging her to get back together with him, a court has heard. |
Molly McLaren, 23, died from stab wounds in a Chatham shopping centre car park on 29 June. | Molly McLaren, 23, died from stab wounds in a Chatham shopping centre car park on 29 June. |
Maidstone Crown Court heard Joshua Stimpson, 26, of Wouldham High Street in Rochester, Kent, met Ms McLaren on dating app Tinder. | Maidstone Crown Court heard Joshua Stimpson, 26, of Wouldham High Street in Rochester, Kent, met Ms McLaren on dating app Tinder. |
Mr Stimpson has admitted manslaughter but denies murdering his ex-partner. | Mr Stimpson has admitted manslaughter but denies murdering his ex-partner. |
'I'm scared' | |
Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told the jury Ms McLaren ended the relationship after finding herself no longer attracted to Stimpson, who was being "demanding" and "childish". | |
The court heard Stimpson bought a kitchen knife two weeks after Ms McLaren had taken him to one side to end their relationship during a night out on 17 June. | |
He also posted derogatory comments and photographs about her on Facebook, including false claims about her using cocaine | |
The court heard that Mr Stimpson tagged Ms McLaren's mother Joanne in his posts so her family could see. | |
Police told him to stop, but he continued regardless. | |
The court was told that in a series of messages to a friend after the breakup Ms McLaren wrote: "I'm actually scared of what he might do. I'm scared he might hurt me. | |
"I don't know how on the edge he might be." | |
In a final message to friends moments before her death she wrote: "Feel like I'm …. looking over my shoulder all the time." | |
Mr Bennetts described how Mr Stimpson then got into her car in the Dockside area of Maritime Way and launched a "frenzied" attack. | |
He said: "There is no dispute that he killed Molly McLaren. | He said: "There is no dispute that he killed Molly McLaren. |
"In certain circumstances the charge of murder can be reduced to manslaughter. In this case the defence will assert that it should be. | "In certain circumstances the charge of murder can be reduced to manslaughter. In this case the defence will assert that it should be. |
"The plea is on the basis that at the time of the killing, Joshua Stimpson was suffering from diminished responsibility. The prosecution does not accept that he was." | "The plea is on the basis that at the time of the killing, Joshua Stimpson was suffering from diminished responsibility. The prosecution does not accept that he was." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |