Friend told woman accused of killing ex on Christmas Day 'he was on Tinder' before alleged stabbing

Giving evidence from behind a screen at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday, prosecution witness David Jones said he and Carless, also know as Kirsty Cribb, had drinks at the Crystal Fountain pub on December 20th and arranged to meet again on Christmas Eve.

The jury was shown footage of them drinking and socialising in a group at the Linford Arms and the White Hart pubs in the town on December 24. Mr Jones said they had a good time and Carless seemed "happy" and "normal". 

He said later some of the group went to his flat nearby in Wolverhampton Road and there came a time when the others left and he and Carless were alone. He said they agreed she would stay the night and at around 9pm she went home for her things, returning about an hour later.

Mr Jonas Hankin KC, prosecuting,  then put to Mr Jones: "We know that in fact she left your property at about 2am. Is it right that she suddenly got up and announced she was leaving? Where did she say she was going?"

Mr Jones replied: "She said 'I'm going to Walsall'. He told the court she had given him no advanced warning about leaving and until that point they had been getting on and that she did not mention Mr Price.

He also told the jury that that she was using her phone a lot before she left. "I didn't know what she was doing. She seemed to be texting, I did even know she called a taxi. she just got up."

Cross-examining Mr Jones defence barrister Miss Michelle Heeley KC asked: "Did you see her take any drugs?" Mr Jones replied: "No."

Re-examining him Mr Hankin asked the witness: "While you were in the pub did you know what she was doing when out of your sight, for example, when she went to the toilet?"  He replied: "No".

The barrister also read to the jury the witness statement of Hannah Wilkin, a friend of the defendant, who said she came across Mr Price's profile on dating app Tinder.

Miss Wilkins stated: "As I'm friends with Kirsty I thought she should know, so I sent her a screenshot of his profile of Louis holding Kirsty's daughter."

She stated she then phoned the defendant and added: "When I told Kirsty this she didn't really say say anything and she ended the call."

The court also heard the defendant and Mr Price had an abusive on/off relationship and had earlier agreed to split up.

The prosecution claims that on receiving the screenshot Carless immediately left Mr Jones' flat in a taxi to return home before getting another taxi to Elm Road in Norton Canes where her ex-partner was staying, and armed with a kitchen knife she stabbed Mr Price in the chest in a jealous rage fuelled by drink and cocaine - despite her spending the night with another man.

Carless,  aged 33, of Haling Way,  Bridgtown, denies murder, possessing a knife, intentionally strangling Mr Price and assaulting him.

The trial continues.