LEAMINGTON WOMAN JAILED FOR KILLING PARTNER WITH A KNIFE
A woman from Leamington, Julie Appleton, was convicted of killing her partner, Raymond Smith, by stabbing him in the chest with a kitchen knife while he was resting on a sofa in their flat on Brunswick Street.Appleton admitted to stabbing Smith in a fit of temper and was initially charged with murder.
During her trial at Warwick Crown Court, two psychiatrists testified that she suffered from a personality disorder.
Appleton pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The judge, Mr Justice Keith, stated: "You killed Raymond Smith.
You immediately regretted it and I have no doubt you wish it had never happened.
But I am sure that at the time you stabbed him, you intended to cause him really serious harm." The court heard that Appleton’s responsibility was substantially impaired by her personality disorder, likely stemming from childhood abuse.
The incident was triggered by an argument where she was angered that Smith did not defend her earlier that day when another woman called her a slag.
Appleton recalled: "There was something that was said that really infuriated me.
I can't recall what it was.
I can only remember rushing into the lounge and that was it." She admitted to stabbing Smith, with the knife plunged into his chest up to the handle.
Despite calling emergency services, Smith died within 30 minutes.
The family of Raymond Smith expressed disappointment with the sentencing, believing three and a half years was inadequate.
They felt let down by the justice system, with his sister Tina stating: "As members of Ray’s family we feel let down at the judge’s decision of a mere 3?
years, of which she will only serve half.
That is not a sentence but a travesty and the British justice system has failed us."
