Man kills his ex-wife at divorce party
Brian Jones, of Marske, East Cleveland, denies murdering Katrina Jones, 34, last November, claiming he was provoked by her celebration and that he had begged her not to hold it.
Teesside Crown Court was told banners were put up outside the former matrimonial home declaring “The Party’s Here” and “Congratulations”.
Inside, there were balloons and streamers, while a poster said: “Katrina’s Divorce Party. Free at last.”
Jones, who was staying next door with neighbour Brian Fowle despite renting a flat in another street, claimed he snapped after he saw a photo of himself in the house, with “Pin the Tail on the X” written beside it.
The court was told he stabbed her nine times in the chest and three times in the arm with a kitchen knife, before ringing 999 and telling the operator: “I have stabbed my wife, please come quickly. Will you please come and save her?”
Later, he told the call handler: “I don’t want her to die, I love her to bits.”
The body of Mrs Jones was found with a streamer draped across it.
Fowle told police Jones drank beer and whisky beforehand and his mood was becoming more black.
The jury heard the couple’s 10-year marriage began to crumble late in 2008, and Mrs Jones started divorce proceedings after she began an affair with old friend Shaun Kelly, 45, who sent her a Valentine’s card.
Franz Muller, prosecuting, said Mrs Jones saw a solicitor in March last year, but the defendant, wanted to fix their marriage.
Muller said she had told her new lover her husband had warned that “if he couldn’t have her, no other man could”.
She called police when one row turned violent, but did not press charges.
The divorce came through in September, some weeks before Jones killed her.
He told police: “I became aware Katrina was holding a divorce party.
“I begged her not to do this because it upset me so much. She just laughed at me.
“She placed a photograph of me on the back of the door and there was a note inviting people to stick pins in my image.
“At this point I believe I snapped and suffered a temporary loss of control.
“If it had not been for what Katrina had done that day I do not believe I would have caused these injuries.”
The court heard Jones must have gone back to his neighbour’s home to pick up the kitchen knife.
The spurned husband also claimed “extreme provocation” at the time, saying he knew his ex-wife had been unfaithful at least twice, but that he forgave her.
The case continues today.
