Jury ready to deliver Bright verdict

Date published: 23 January 2015


THE jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a young mum is expected to reach its verdict at Manchester Crown Court today.

Andre Bright (30) is accused of stabbing Victoria Adams twice. He accepts responsibility for her death but denies murder - claiming he was holding a knife and ran into her at the bottom of the stairs.

He claims to have no recollection of a second stab wound to the chest which the jury heard would have taken “significant force” to inflict.

Forensic pathologist Dr Charles Wilson told Manchester Crown Court “common sense would say this wouldn’t happen twice.”

Bright’s defence of diminished responsibility relies on his mentally instability in the months leading up to the killing, when he suffered paranoid schizophrenia.

Victoria’s friend Kerry Brennan told the court the mother-of-one had stolen £1,500 from Bright two days before the her death. Bright claims he didn’t realise this until after his arrest.

Bright also denies a charge of assault relating to an incident with a bouncer the night before Ms Adams’ death. He is alleged to have attacked Matthew Wilkinson, a doorman at Bar 101 on Yorkshire Street, after being refused entry. Bright allegedly hit Mr Wilkinson with an afro comb, causing him extensive bleeding.

Bright has previous convictions for unlawful wounding and GBH, and in 2007 was convicted of kicking, punching and spitting at a pregnant partner.