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Wife guilty of anti-freeze plot Wife guilty of anti-freeze plot
(20 minutes later)
A woman has been found guilty of trying to kill her husband by slipping anti-freeze into his wine.A woman has been found guilty of trying to kill her husband by slipping anti-freeze into his wine.
A jury at Stafford Crown Court found Kate Knight, 28, guilty of the attempted murder of husband Lee at their home in Stoke-on-Trent in 2005.A jury at Stafford Crown Court found Kate Knight, 28, guilty of the attempted murder of husband Lee at their home in Stoke-on-Trent in 2005.
Mr Knight, a 37-year-old factory worker, suffered kidney failure and brain damage after his wife put the substance in red wine and a curry.Mr Knight, a 37-year-old factory worker, suffered kidney failure and brain damage after his wife put the substance in red wine and a curry.
After the hearing, he said his wife's actions had ruined his life.After the hearing, he said his wife's actions had ruined his life.
Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date.Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date.
Over the three-week trial the jury heard how Knight plotted to poison her husband, who worked for JCB, in order to collect a £130,000 pay-out from his employer and clear debts.
'Ruined life''Ruined life'
Mr Knight, who lives with his parents and the couple's nine-year-old son Jack, said Mrs Knight "ruined my life". Over the three-week trial the jury heard how Knight plotted to poison her husband, who worked for JCB, in order to collect a £130,000 pay-out from his employer and clear debts.
Mr Knight, who lives with his parents and the couple's nine-year-old son Jack, said: "Kate has ruined my life."
In a statement, Mr Knight said: "It has been very stressful. I realised that my wife had left me. I lost my job, my house, everything I worked for and, worst of all, my son.In a statement, Mr Knight said: "It has been very stressful. I realised that my wife had left me. I lost my job, my house, everything I worked for and, worst of all, my son.
"I have hardly any independence anymore - I need to have somebody with me all the time. I don't think I'll ever be able to work again.""I have hardly any independence anymore - I need to have somebody with me all the time. I don't think I'll ever be able to work again."
He added that what his wife had done would have a big effect on their son's future.He added that what his wife had done would have a big effect on their son's future.
Knight, formerly of Waterdale Grove, Meir Hay, had denied attempted murder and also forging her husband's signature on loan and mortgage application forms.
Anniversary mealAnniversary meal
During the trial Mr Knight gave evidence, supported in court by two hearing specialists, after being left partially deaf by the poisoning.During the trial Mr Knight gave evidence, supported in court by two hearing specialists, after being left partially deaf by the poisoning.
He now wears two hearing aids after regaining some level of hearing after a recent operation. He now wears two hearing aids after regaining some level of hearing following a recent operation.
The court heard how he had known nothing about any anti-freeze being kept in the house and was not aware of two large loans his wife had taken out.
On the eve of the couple's seventh wedding anniversary, Knight cooked her husband a curry and served him red wine - both of which had been laced with ethylene glycol, the chemical name for anti-freeze.On the eve of the couple's seventh wedding anniversary, Knight cooked her husband a curry and served him red wine - both of which had been laced with ethylene glycol, the chemical name for anti-freeze.
'Hiring a hitman'
The jury also heard over the course of the trial how Knight had used internet search engines to find a method of killing, settling on anti-freeze after ruling out ecstasy or an iron overdose.The jury also heard over the course of the trial how Knight had used internet search engines to find a method of killing, settling on anti-freeze after ruling out ecstasy or an iron overdose.
Knight's neighbour Sarah Johnson, 28, told the court how the accused had sought her advice on hiring a hitman. Knight's neighbour Sarah Johnson, 28, told the court how the accused had mentioned paying £50,000 to hire a hitman.
Miss Johnson said her neighbour had mentioned paying £50,000 to get "somebody to do the job". Under cross examination, Knight blamed her husband's health problems on drinking too much alcohol.
Under cross examination, Knight blamed her husband's near-fatal health problems on drinking too much alcohol. 'Cold and calculated'
The couple had known each other for three years before getting married. Det Con Martin Smith, of Staffordshire Police, said outside court: "This highly unusual case posed a number of investigative challenges. Despite the weight of evidence against her, Kate Knight refused to co-operate throughout.
"Her cowardly crime almost caused the death of Lee Knight whose blindness is a life sentence in itself - he will never be able to properly see his young son again.
"Lee, with the support of his family, is piecing his life back together. I hope today's outcome will help them on their road to recovery."
Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman Katy Halls said the attack on Mr Knight had been "cold and calculated".
Ms Halls said: "Knight had every intention to kill her husband by poisoning him with the toxic substance.
"Evidence was gathered from her computer showing that she had researched the effects of different substances ensuring she used the most lethal."