Gisburn 'attempt murder man's 999 call admission'

2:55pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

A JURY has heard a 999 call made by a man accused of attempted murder, during which he said: "I think I've tried to kill my wife."

But Allan Murgatroyd told the jury that he never deliberately tried to stab her or even hurt her.

Murgatroyd, of St Clements Court, Barrowford, said he went to his estranged wife's caravan at the Todber site, Gisburn, in the early hours in a bid to speak to her about access to their daughter.

He had picked up a knife, thinking she would then talk to him, he said.

The 61-year-old said he felt terrible about what had happened to his second wife, Linda Murgatroyd, 44, last November 11.

Before he started giving evidence at Preston Crown Court , the jury heard the recording of the 999 call he made to police later that same morning.

He reportedly then said to the arresting officer: "I think I have really hurt her. I was going to kill her, I really was and I meant to do it. I've been told she was cheating on me."

Murgatroyd denies attempted murder and an alternative of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Miss Hilary Manley, prosecuting, said that Murgatroyd lay in wait for his estranged wife, armed with a knife and told her: "I'm going to prison, I'm going to kill you" before going on to stab her.

She sustained injuries to her hands, mouth, abdomen and knee.

She has already given evidence, telling the jury she thought she was going to die.

Murgatroyd, who has no convictions or cautions, said he and Linda had separated in August last year. He ended up moving out to Barrowford and she stayed on at the caravan.

There were arrangements about his seeing his daughter, but by the date of the alleged offences, he was upset about not seeing her as much as he wanted, he said.

He said he had tried to get in touch and finally went round to the caravan, at around 1.45am that Sunday morning, to try and speak to his wife.

He said that she was not home and he fell asleep. He said he picked up a knife, thinking she would talk to him then.

"I thought I'd threaten her with this knife and she'd take notice," he told the court.

He denied ever holding the knife to her neck, or saying that he was going to prison and that he was going to kill her. The defendant said they had ended up on the floor, but he had not deliberately tried to stab her in the stomach.

His barrister, Mr Mark Stuart, asked him: "Did you at any stage deliberately try to stab her?" Murgatroyd said "no".

His counsel then asked him "When on the floor, were you trying in any way to hurt her?"

The defendant responded "No, I wasn't trying to hurt her.".

He went on "She came running at me. She came and run at the side of the door. I turned to get hold of her.

"When she opened the door we both seemed to fall out." When asked to explain why he said what he did in the 999 call, he explained "because I felt guilty".

(proceeding)

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