Stabbed doctor 'was like mother'

Dr Anyetei's body was found in her car with 56 stab wounds

A law student accused of murdering a doctor stabbed to death on her driveway in Kent has said the pair shared a "mother and son" relationship.

David Quartey, 22, of Humber Road, Dartford, denies murdering consultant paediatrician Victoria Anyetei, 54.

Dr Anyetei was stabbed 56 times in her car in Teynham Road, Dartford, on 14 August last year as she left for work at St Thomas's Hospital in London.

"I didn't kill her," Mr Quartey told Maidstone Crown Court.

"I have been accused of killing someone I loved."

The prosecution claims Mr Quartey snapped under the pressure of failing his exams.

Devout Christian

The court has heard Mr Quartey, the son of a High Court judge in his native Ghana, had a poor attendance record at Kensington College of Business and had failed his exams twice, putting his visa in jeopardy.

He told Dr Anyetei he had not yet received the results but she found out the truth from the college and confronted him.

On Tuesday, Mr Quartey described his love for devout Christian Dr Anyeti and the closeness between himself and her son Andrew Thompson.

The student had become friends with Dr Anyetei after she saved the life of a member of his family, and had been living with her and Mr Thompson since October 2005.

"She really cared what was going on in my life," Mr Quartey said.

"I respected her. I was never rude to her. I either called her mum or doc."

The trial continues.