Hairdresser 'fought for her life'

Sharon Bell was a mother-of-three

A jury has heard a tape of a Tyneside hairdresser's final moments as she was being stabbed to death.

Sharon Bell, 38, managed to stagger outside the salon in Newcastle city centre, but later died in hospital of stab wounds.

Her ex-partner Brian Whitfield, 44, of no fixed address, is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

He denies murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The court heard a tape of the final moments of the mother-of-three, recorded on the CCTV security system at New York Hair Cutting Co last May.

Stun gun

Her ex-partner was heard to enter and question her about a relationship she had just begun.

Then Miss Bell began screaming as she was attacked with what the prosecution alleged was a stun gun.

There were further screams and she was heard to plead for her life.

A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Bell had been stabbed 23 times, and two circular marks on her arm were consistent with being attacked with a stun gun.

The court was also told that following the breakdown of their relationship Mr Whitfield bombarded Miss Bell with phone calls, text messages and would go to her house and visit the salon.

After several weeks of this she went to the police. He was charged with harassment and was on bail at the time of the killing.

The trial continues.