Man admits killing ex-partner in stab attack in Cumbria

Last updated at 20:31 GMT, Monday, 8 February 2010

A man who killed his ex-partner tried to hack off her head in front of her children, a court heard.

Benjamin Cooper, 35, stabbed Claire Marshall to death at her home in Millom, Cumbria, on 24 January last year, Manchester Crown Court heard.

A blood-soaked Cooper then drove to the home of his 64-year-old stepfather and attacked him with a meat cleaver.

On Monday, he admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and attempted murder.

Throat cut

The court was told he suffered from a severe psychiatric illness and had suffered psychotic delusions that Miss Marshall, 35, was plotting to kill him.

In a statement to police, her daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she noticed Cooper was not talking much when he arrived at her mother's house in Newton Street.

The statement said: "He was looking scary. Then he got a penknife out. He started to cut her throat.

"It was all a blur. I was running around like a headless chicken, then he jumped off her and ran to the kitchen to grab a knife.

"I tried to stop him and reason with him. He pushed me away and he held the knife up to me.

"I ran out of the house with my sister to the neighbour's house to get help for my mum."

The court was told the mother-of-three was pronounced dead by paramedics after what the Crown Prosecution Service said was an attack of the "utmost savagery".

She had suffered 21 wounds to the head and neck, 12 to the right arm and eight to the left arm, with lesser injuries to the lips and mouth.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rogers told the court: "I can think of no explanation other than the offender was trying to cut off Claire Marshall's head."

'Bit of butchery'

After leaving Miss Marshall, Cooper drove the short distance to his stepfather Gerald Fern's home in Mainsgate Road.

The court heard Mr Fern had asked him what he was "up to" and Cooper replied he had been "doing a bit of butchery".

A struggle ensued and Cooper attacked his stepfather with various knives, including a meat cleaver.

Mr Fern's life was saved as he was airlifted to hospital. His right ear had nearly been cut off completely and he had suffered deep lacerations to his skull, right shoulder, chest and back.

Prosecutor Howard Bentham QC said the couple had moved from Swindon to Millom but had separated in January 2008.

Cooper, a self-employed recruitment specialist of Wellington Street, Millom, will be sentenced on Wednesday.

In 1994, Miss Marshall's mother Marjorie was stabbed dead 30 times with a kitchen knife by her son John at the family home in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

John and Claire had both been adopted by the couple.

John Marshall admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but was not jailed after his father Jim said he had forgiven his son and pleaded to the judge for mercy.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8505033.stm