Barrowford man guilty of stabbing wife

11:10pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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A HUSBAND has been cleared of trying to murder his estranged wife in a knife attack - but faces a substantial prison sentence' after being convicted of unlawful wounding.

Allan Murgatroyd, 61, from Barrowford, stabbed his former partner Linda at the Todber Caravan Park in Burnley Road, Gisburn, Preston Crown Court heard.

Yesterday a jury found him not guilty of attempted murder and an alternative charge of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm but convicted him on the lesser charge of causing unlawful wounding.

Murgatroyd, who was remanded in custody, has been told he faces a substantial prison sentence when he returns to court next month.

During a three-day trial at Preston, prosecutors claimed he lay in wait for his wife Linda at her caravan home on November 11 last year.

He was alleged to have repeatedly stabbed the 44-year-old, resulting in injuries to her stomach, mouth, hands and knee.

He was alleged to have said: "I'm going to prison, I'm going to kill you."

It was also claimed that he later told an arresting officer, after giving himself up outside Barnoldswick police station: "I was going to kill her, I really was and I meant to do it."

Murgatroyd, of St Clements Court, Barrowford was further remanded in custody following the verdicts.

His barrister Mr Mark Stuart told the court: "He knows it will be an immediate custodial sentence.

"The only question is whether a pre sentence report is needed."

Trial judge, Mr Justice Irwin, said he preferred to have such a report, adding: "It is inevitably a significant custodial sentence."

Murgatroyd will be sentenced on May 16.

The trial heard that the couple had been married for more than a decade and had a 12-year-old daughter called Shannon.

Hilary Manley, prosecuting, alleged that the woman had just returned home in the early hours of November 11 last year when the defendant grabbed her and held a knife to her throat.

He is said to have gone on to stab at her, accusing her of infidelity and she also received wounds to her hands while trying to grab the blade.

He later made a 999 call from outside Barnoldswick police station, saying he thought he had tried to kill his wife and wanted to give himself up.

In his evidence to the court, the defendant insisted he had not deliberately tried to stab his wife or intended to hurt her.

He said he had gone round to talk because he was upset about access arrangements to their daughter.

Murgatroyd claimed he had picked up a knife, thinking she would talk to him, but that he felt "terrible" over what happened that night.

The detective who led the investigation, Det Chief Insp Tim Leeson, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for Mrs Murgatroyd, who feared for her life during this unprovoked attack, made all the more aggravating as it occurred in her own home.

"I am pleased that Alan Murgatroyd has been found guilty of this cowardly attack on his estranged wife, and Lancashire Constabulary will continue to deal robustly with persons committing offences of this nature."