Man accused of slaying lover attempted suicide, jury told

TORONTO - A devout Christian accused of murdering his lover attempted suicide two decades ago after enduring troubles with his girlfriend, a jury heard Tuesday. Patrick Barrett, 41, admitted he hit Lucita Charles repeatedly with a hammer and then pinned two pages of the Bible to her chest with a knife. Barrett’s father, Winston Barrett, testified his son once slashed his wrists in 1991 or 1992 after having some difficulties with another girlfriend. Barrett has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to second-degree murder in the May 31, 2010 slaying of the 27-year-old single mom of a severely-disabled son, Mataeo, now 10. In a videotaped statement played in court last week, a sobbing Barrett told homicide detectives Pauline Gray and Scott Whittemore that he became enraged after she ended their engagement and wouldn’t have his baby.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/02/man-accused-of-slaying-lover-attempted-suicide-jury-told