Royal aide murder trial: Parents hear how son died

The parents of Tommy Cressman wept at the Old Bailey as they heard how their son tried to save his life by pulling an eight-inch kitchen knife from his chest.

It was the first time Harry and Barbara Cressman had heard about their son's last minutes of life.

Tommy Cressman's lover, former royal aide Jane Andrews, denies murdering him at the home they shared in Fulham, last September.

Andrews, who worked for the Duchess of York for nine years until 1997, claims he fell on the knife while they were arguing.

The prosecution said it was a deliberate act of revenge by a jilted woman.

Mr and Mrs Cressman, who are divorced, were comforted by members of their family as defence counsel John Kelsey-Fry QC, neared the end of his closing speech.

Mr Kelsey-Fry said Mr Cressman's chest wound was distorted and the knife was found between the dead man's fingers.

He said: "The distortion of the wound could have happened as he fell from the bed, or as he tried to remove the knife."

The trial continues.