Michael Spalding murder trial: Accused 'not present' at scene of killing
A murder suspect was not present at the scene of the killing, a court was told.
Kaly Kaul, defending Michelle Bird, told Birmingham Crown Court the prosecution had not proved her client was present when Michael Spalding, aged 39, was killed and his body dismembered.
Instead, she said the case against the Smethwick woman rested on texts she had sent to Mr Spalding's friends and relatives, which Jonas Hankin, prosecuting, said was evidence of an attempt to cover up her crime.
Bird, aged 35, denies murder along with her partner Lorenzo Simon, aged 35, both of Oxford Road, Smethwick.
Ms Kaul said the texts were sent while Mr Spalding was still alive and were not proof of a murderer, but rather of a 'poisonous troll.'
She also refuted other evidence used by Mr Hankin, including that she had stayed with Simon after the death and had not called the police, by saying Bird was concerned for the welfare of the baby she had with Simon.
Ms Kaul added much of her behaviour had been driven by fear of her boyfriend, especially as she had been in abusive relationships in the past and invited the jury to consider her behaviour in this context.
She said: "I don't ask you not to blame her, but to understand her and the affect (her past) has on her and the way she makes decisions."
The trial continues.
