Seven-year itch led to poison bid

KATE KNIGHT’S version of the seven-year itch saw her surfing the internet for tips on killing her husband in one of the most horrific ways imaginable.

As Lee Knight celebrated his seventh wedding anniversary — with a curry laced with antifreeze — he had no inkling of his wife’s intentions or the debts that motivated her.

During five hours in the witness box, Knight showed neither sorrow nor sympathy for the plight of her husband.

She remained calm while commenting on evidence given by her friend and neighbour, Sarah Johnson.

Ms Johnson’s claims that Knight had talked about using antifreeze to poison her husband raised the initial suspicions about Mr Knight’s illness.

But Knight made no criticism of Ms Johnson during her testimony, simply answering “no” when asked if conversations about a hitman and antifreeze had taken place.

The would-be killer’s evidence also laid bare the web of financial deceit she had hidden from her husband by forging his signature on mortgage and loan application forms.

While Mr Knight worked overtime to earn an annual salary of about £36,000 (€48,398), his wife — in receipt of disability living allowance due to a trapped nerve — was organising high-interest loans to settle spiralling debts.

Strangely, the only animated part of Knight’s account to the jury was her apparent attempt to pin her husband’s near-fatal health problems on what she claimed was a liking for alcohol.

The former brewery training officer and customer services adviser told the jury her husband drank up to four litres of super strength lager nightly and was fond of “Cheeky Vimto” — a cocktail of port, vodka, lemonade and alcopop.