'Daddy's killed Mummy', court hears

A four-year-old boy cried "Daddy's killed Mummy" after his soldier father launched a fatal knife attack on his mother, a court has heard.

Leanne McNuff, 24, was stabbed repeatedly in her upper body as she tried to fight off Ian Lowe, 25, a Lance Corporal in the Army, the court heard.

One stab wound went completely through her neck and another through her arm as she vainly tried to defend herself, Manchester Crown Court heard. Lowe also repeatedly stamped on her face, the court was told.

The couple's son, Jaden, was at Miss McNuff's home in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, at the time of the attack in March this year.

When Miss McNuff's brother Ryan dashed to help his dying sister, the youngster told him: "Daddy's killed Mummy", the court heard. The boy later said to his grandmother, who lived next door and rushed to give CPR: "Can you help Mummy, Nana?"

Miss McNuff and Lowe, who served with the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, had a stormy on-off relationship, the court heard.

Lowe, originally from Droylsden but based at the Somme Barracks in Catterick, was on bail for allegedly assaulting Miss McNuff at the time of the killing. He admits manslaughter but denies murder.

In a defence statement he claims on the day of the attack he learnt Miss McNuff had been unfaithful to him while they were still in a relationship, that she intended to leave the area and take Jaden with her and that she had aborted a child the defendant believed to be his. He claims he killed Miss McNuff after losing his self control when she came at him with a knife.

Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, told the jury the couple began a relationship when they were both aged around 18, in 2006, and Jaden was born the year after. They split, were reconciled, but then the relationship turned sour again and they separated again on February 11, one month before the fatal attack.

The trial, expected to last up to three weeks, continues.