Sheffield woman accused of murdering her partner had allegedly been involved in neighbourhood disturbances

An ongoing Sheffield Crown Court trial has heard how Kerry Taylor, aged 41, of Ravenscroft Place, Stradbroke, Sheffield, has denied murdering partner Simone Hancock who suffered multiple stab wounds on July 4.

Robert Woodcock, prosecuting, said the couple’s relationship had become strained and they had met and ended-up arguing over drugs before Ms Hancock suffered more than ten stab wounds in her own flat at Ravenscroft Place.

Christopher Rose, also prosecuting, read out a series of witness statements on January 18.

The auntie of resident Deborah Allen, who had been a former neighbour of Kerry Taylor and Simone Hancock, stated how her niece moved out after she had trouble with Ms Taylor and Ms Hancock.

Deborah Allen’s auntie Julia Rawson claimed Ms Taylor and Ms Hancock had threatened to stab Ms Allen despite efforts to help Kerry Taylor who had revealed she had a drug problem and was taking methdone.

Ms Rawson also claimed Ms Hancock had been involved in drugs and she had been seen in communal areas carrying a knife and and a baseball bat and Kerry Taylor had been seen with a knife.

A friend of Deborah Allen’s, Carol Morgan, stated she had heard Kerry Taylor shouting and banging and she had once been confronted by Ms Taylor and Simone Hancock and claimed Ms Hancock had threatened to stab her.

A nearby neighbour, Scott Widdowson, stated he had seen Kerry Taylor shouting from a window before she threw herself on to a veranda before making a stabbing motion with scissors towards her chest.

Tracey Judge, who had been checking on her sister’s flat at Ravenscroft Place also gave a statement about an incident when Kerry Taylor confronted her before Ms Hancock started arguing with Ms Taylor who armed herself with a hammer.

Simone Hancock’s mother, Patricia Hall, stated Ms Hancock had got involved with drugs after her marriage broke down and she had suffered mental health probems.

Ms Hall also stated Simone Hancock had told her she was having trouble with Kerry Taylor and despite speaking regularly when her daughter called in July she told her she did not want to talk because she was fed-up.

She added after a brief conversation on July 4 Ms Hancock tried ringing a couple of times but she did not answer and now feels guilty because she feels if she had spoken to her things might have turned out differently.

Ms Taylor denies murder but suggests she lost control, according to Mr Woodcock, and that she is responsible for an unlawful death and the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Mr Woodcock said nearby neighbour Michael Collins claims he had heard Ms Hancock screaming and he and a friend tried to stem her bleeding with towels.

The defendant had later been seen in the street before she was treated for an injury and later arrested, according to Mr Woodcock.

Ms Taylor claimed Ms Hancock had been armed with a knife but she disarmed her and stabbed her once in self-defence.

The trial continues.

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