Woman guilty of wounding husband and a child

A woman has been convicted of intentionally wounding her husband and a child by stabbing them at a house.

Jacqueline Mounsey was acquitted of charges which had alleged the attempted murder of Mark Bennett and the youngster, following a two-week trial at Carlisle Crown Court.

But a jury of seven men and five women found the 53-year-old from the city guilty of two alternative, lesser charges.

This included charges of wounding Mr Bennett and the child with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - on majority verdicts of 10 to two, and 11 to one, respectively.

During evidence, jurors heard how Mounsey first stabbed her husband as he lay sleeping on a living room sofa inside the address at Whernside on 10 June.

Mr Bennett, 56, felt a jab before seeing Mounsey with the knife and then realising he had been attacked, the court heard.

As he tried to flee, bleeding, he reached the garden steps but Mounsey jumped on him before attempting to stab him again, the court was told. Mr Bennett had told the jury he was "trying to run for my life".

The court heard Mounsey also stabbed the child. A pathologist, who viewed a scan of the injuries, estimated the youngster may have been "potentially millimetres" from losing their life.

Mr Bennett and the child were treated in hospital before being discharged.

Mounsey also suffered injuries, which the pathologist suggested could be "tentative" or "hesitant".

Jurors watched footage captured by detectives at a bail address after Mounsey had been interviewed and gave mostly "no comment" answers.

During lengthy exchanges, she hinted at wanting to tell the officers something.

"What I've got to say is going to get me into trouble," she initially said.

"I just want to confess now," she continued. "I did it."

Giving evidence, Mounsey said she remembered nothing from 10 June, nor making the subsequent, telling comments to police. She spoke of being devastated by the earlier death of her mother, which had brought other past trauma firmly into focus.

Mounsey, wearing glasses and a dark suit jacket over a white blouse, showed no emotion as the four verdicts were returned.

Judge Nicholas Barker said he would not pass sentence immediately and adjourned the case until 7 February for reports.

Mounsey, previously of Whernside, was remanded in custody.

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