Neighbour was 'alarmed' by 'shrill' screams and dog barking around time of alleged Christmas Day murder

On Monday (July 21), barrister Miss Lisa Hancox, prosecutor, read aloud the witness statement from Amanda Wright, who lived in a street neighbouring Elm Road, who told detectives she was a poor sleeper. Mrs Wright said: "I was awake when I heard screaming during the early hours of the morning I think at about 3.15.

"The scream was high pitched like a female voice. It was loud then quiet. It went on for about two or three seconds. When I heard it I was alarmed. It sounded like a shrill then I heard what sounded like a male's voice, it was muffled and I didn't hear what was said."

Mrs Wright also stated she heard a dog barking for around two minutes which was unusual. She stated that she read about the murder days later in a press article and told officers what she heard when they knocked on her door during their inquiries.

The jury was also shown a series of compilation video relating to the prosecution's case including when an armed response team caught up with Carless .The jury was told that the defendant immediately fled the scene in a waiting taxi and headed to her parents home in Sycamore Road, Wimblebury.

Miss Hancox said Carless was apprehended a short time after the alleged attack due to her stepfather Alan Lloyd phoning 999 to report her whereabouts. During the recording Mr Lloyd, aged 64, told the emergency operator: "My stepdaughter just turned up at my house alleging that she has stabbed her boyfriend and he's dead. She's in the kitchen talking to her mother."

He added that Carless was in an "emotional" state and did not appear to be "very mentally stable".

The jury also saw footage of Carless being arrested minutes later and calmly obeying the instructions given by the officers before asking if she could kiss her mother Maureen Cribb goodbye before she was escorted outside to an awaiting patrol crew.

She could also be heard asking Ms Cribb to tell her children that she loved them. A further video showed hand swabs being taken from her blood-stained hands at Cannock's Watling Street custody suite and showed her calmly talking and giggling when an officer had difficulty putting on disposable blue gloves before carrying out the procedure.

The court previously heard the defendant and Mr Price had agreed to part company earlier that night. The couple had an abusive on/off relationship and were known to Cannock police.

The prosecution claims that on receiving a screenshot of Mr Price's Tinder profile, in a jealous rage fuelled by drink and cocaine, Careless headed to where he was staying armed with a kitchen knife and  stabbed him in the chest resulting in his death almost immediately.

Carless,  aged 33, of Haling Way,  Bridgtown, denies the allegations. She previously pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter in that she unlawfully killed Mr Price without intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm, and pleaded guilty to criminal damage relating to an incident in November when she poured bleach over his clothes.

The trial continues.