Wife stabbed after booze-fuelled row

AN Alt man stabbed his wife in the chest after sinking “barrel loads” of booze following a row over his drinking and the couple’s £27,000 debts, a murder trial heard.

Graham Cleary-Senior (56), of Alt Avenue, had been out drinking on March 17 and returned home to an argument with his wife of 18 years, Frances (49), over his alcoholism, Manchester Crown Court heard.

In the midst of one of many rows between the couple over the years, Cleary-Senior grabbed a kitchen knife and “waved it around threateningly” as Frances sat on the sofa.

The court heard how Frances had grown so used to his threats she goaded him to stab her - and he plunged the knife into her chest. He then handed her a towel, leaving her to call the emergency services herself.

Police and paramedics found Frances grey, barely moving, breathing shallowly and begging for her life while her husband was “slumped on a chair”.

Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, said: “No help was provided by Cleary-Senior while his wife was saying, ‘please don’t let me die’. He showed no remorse or concern. He was more interested in having a cigarette.”

Frances was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital and made good progress aftere emergency surgery..

She remained in hospital while living arrangements were made, and gave a statement to police - but then developed a chest infection and pneumonia and died on April 14.

Mr Cadwallader said despite Frances suffering from diabetes, heart problems and obesity, she would not have been in hospital if not for the stabbing.

The court heard how Cleary-Senior, who lost his job 18 months before the incident,told officers: “She’s wound me up. She spends money like it’s going out of fashion and we’re already £27,000 in debt.

“She said ‘stab me, stab me’ so I did. She pushed me to it.”

Mr Cadwallader added: “Whatever the circumstances, Cleary-Senior had a knife and used it to stab her, essentially, in the heart and intended to kill her or cause serious harm.”

Cleary-Senior denies murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent.

The trial continues.