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Victim called 999 before stabbing | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A murder trial has heard how a woman rang police to say she was "absolutely petrified" of her ex-partner, the night before he killed her. | |
Karen McGraw, 50, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, asked for help and was told to ring 999 if anything happened, but was later stabbed to death at her home. | |
Trevor Ferguson, 49, of Manchester, admits killing her but denies murder, claiming he was provoked. | |
The trial, at Mold Crown Court, continues. | |
The jury heard a recording of telephone calls she made to police on 22 July, the day she ended her relationship with Mr Ferguson. | |
Shaking, she said she was worried he would return to her home, but was told not to worry. | |
Ms McGraw was told to dial 999 if she thought he was outside, and police would attend immediately. | |
Prosecutor Andrew Thomas QC has told the jury that when Ms McGraw finished the relationship, Mr Ferguson broke down her door and stabbed her three times with a filleting knife. | Prosecutor Andrew Thomas QC has told the jury that when Ms McGraw finished the relationship, Mr Ferguson broke down her door and stabbed her three times with a filleting knife. |
'Psycho' | |
The court also heard from prosecution witness David Edgerton, who said Ms McGraw told him she had received text messages from Mr Ferguson, threatening to kill her, and had described him as "a psycho basically". | |
He said Ms McGraw told him she had called police but they had said they could not act until he did something to her. | |
Victoria Roberts, a neighbourhood warden, told how she went to Ms McGraw's house after the defendant had been arrested for assault and criminal damage at her home. | |
She said security was tightened and Ms McGraw was given personal alarms, but added that she was the most distressed complainant she had seen in 97 cases of domestic violence. | |
Earlier the court heard from friend Angela Johnson who said Ms McGraw feared Mr Ferguson would "come back and get me" after she finished their relationship. | |
She also told how Ms McGraw said Mr Ferguson was responsible for bruising to her face. | |
Another friend, Susan Parker, said Ms McGraw told her Mr Ferguson had kicked her. | Another friend, Susan Parker, said Ms McGraw told her Mr Ferguson had kicked her. |
The friends lost touch for a time, but when Miss Parker later asked Ms McGraw why she had not phoned her, the court was told Mr Ferguson screened her calls and would not allow her to make outgoing calls. | |
She said: "I asked if she could not go to a phone box and she could not go anywhere on her own." | She said: "I asked if she could not go to a phone box and she could not go anywhere on her own." |
'Worst fears' | 'Worst fears' |
The court has already heard how Mr Ferguson killed his former partner on the day she changed her Facebook profile from "in a relationship" to "single." | The court has already heard how Mr Ferguson killed his former partner on the day she changed her Facebook profile from "in a relationship" to "single." |
Mr Thomas told the jury: "The prosecution say that this case is a sad example of a woman struggling to cope with domestic violence with an abusive partner. " | Mr Thomas told the jury: "The prosecution say that this case is a sad example of a woman struggling to cope with domestic violence with an abusive partner. " |
He said Ms McGraw was torn between being in an abusive relationship and the fear of what would happen if she left him. | He said Ms McGraw was torn between being in an abusive relationship and the fear of what would happen if she left him. |
He added: "Of course, we now know that her worst fears were realised." | He added: "Of course, we now know that her worst fears were realised." |
Mr Ferguson admits killing her but denies murder, claiming that provocation and diminished responsibility make it a manslaughter case. | Mr Ferguson admits killing her but denies murder, claiming that provocation and diminished responsibility make it a manslaughter case. |
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