Woman denies knife murder of her lover

A woman stabbed her lover through the heart with a knife following an argument at the victim's Wolverhampton home, a murder trial jury has heard.

Jeleisha Colombo is alleged to have plunged the weapon into 48-year-old James Lockhart's chest at his house in Parkfields. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that the pair had a stormy relationship with a "history of violence".

Colombo denies murder, claiming that Mr Lockhart committed suicide when he stabbed himself with the knife.

Prosecutor Mr Gareth Evans told the jury yesterday that Colombo was drinking with her partner and his friend, Anthony Joyce, at Mr Lockhart's home in Parkfield Grove on October 28 last year.

During the course of the night, the 20-year-old defendant, who had been staying at the house for three days, started to argue with Mr Lockhart, said Mr Evans.

"It seems from what the defendant told police that on that day she wanted to go home to see her mother," said Mr Evans. "She was to tell police that Mr Lockhart was violent and he was preventing her from leaving."

Mr Evans said at one point, Colombo, of no fixed address, had bitten the hand of Mr Lockhart and that a short time later, Mr Joyce heard her say she wanted to leave.

The court was told that Colombo then went into the kitchen and collected a knife and headed towards the front door, where Mr Lockhart was standing.

Mr Evans said: "Mr Joyce heard his friend say 'What are you going to do with that? You might as well kill me'. He heard Miss Colombo say 'Be careful what you wish for"."

Mr Evans said Colombo then stabbed down into the chest of Mr Lockhart, who was heard by Mr Joyce to say "She stabbed me".

A neighbour called police and Mr Lockhart was taken to hospital, but died.

Mr Evans said Colombo's case was that Mr Lockhart grabbed the knife and stuck it into his own chest.

At the time of his death, Mr Lockhart was the subject of a restraining order, preventing him from contacting Colombo.

The trial continues.