Wife gives evidence in murder trial (From Dudley News)

Wife gives evidence in murder trial

2:35pm Monday 9th November 2009

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A WOMAN who dumped a Milking Bank man just two days after their wedding told a jury how he savagely lunged at her with a kitchen knife when he went to the house where she was living with her new boyfriend.

Alison Edwards who married David Slater on August 2 last year admitted she had already armed herself with a piece of wood because she "knew what he was like."

Speaking at Wolverhampton Crown Court, she said the 57-year-old stabbed her with the knife before attacking Kenneth Westwood who died from his stab wounds, outside the house they shared in Monument Lane, Sedgley.

Edwards said she had not expected Slater to turn up immediately after he had been given their address adding: "When I heard knocking at the front door I knew it was him.

"He would not go away. I had the length of wood for my own protection because I knew what he was like. When I opened the door he lunged at me with the knife."

She told the jury she had not wanted Slater to come to the house and she had the wood because she was angry and she wanted to be "prepared."

Mrs Edwards, 51, said she was prepared to get in the first blow adding: "I didn't hit several times but when I did hit him, I hit him on the head."

She said she saw the knife when she opened the door and then Mr Westwood moved past her and got into a struggle with Slater.

"The next thing I saw he was on the floor and David was running away," said Mrs Edwards who denied she was uncertain of the facts because she had been drinking heavily and was in a temper.

When questioned by Mr Andrew Fisher QC defending, Mrs Edwards agreed she had a number of convictions for offences including assault, possessing a blade article, using violence to enter premises, affray and perverting the course of justice.

Mr Fisher suggested to her:"You are a violent, dishonest woman who is also a liar," and Mrs Edwards replied, "If you think I am you carry on."

Slater has pleaded not guilty to murdering 50-year-old Mr Westwood and also to attempting to murder his wife. His trial is continuing.

The prosecution have alleged that Slater took the news his new wife had started a relationship with Mr Westwood shortly after their wedding that he went out on August 17th on a "mission of vengeance."

Mr David Williams QC prosecuting has maintained that Slater - nicknamed "Mister Moneybags" by his new wife - went out in a rage armed with the kitchen knife just two weeks after the couple had said "I do."

He said Slater of Sudeley Gardens, Milking Bank, brutally stabbed Mr Westwood to death after leaving his new wife fighting for her life with a number of stab wounds.

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