Court hears woman's final words

The court was warned the 999 recording was "very distressing"

A woman's final words to police as she feared for her life were played to a jury at the High Court in Glasgow during a murder trial of her husband.

Ann Lilburn is heard to scream "I'm dead" in a 999 call. She also appears to plead with her husband, David: "Stop it. I can't breathe."

Mr Lilburn denies stabbing his wife to death at their home in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on 29 July 2007.

The court was told that Mrs Lilburn planned to leave her husband.

It is alleged that Mr Lilburn repeatedly struck her on the head, seized her by the arm and repeatedly struck her on the head and body with knives.

The court heard Mrs Lilburn suffered a total of 86 stab wounds to her stomach, back and neck.

The call played to the court lasted approximately four minutes. It was made at about 0300 on the day she was allegedly murdered.

'Very distressing'

Prior to it being heard, prosecutor Derek Ogg QC said it was a "very distressing" recording and allowed anyone who did not want to listen to it to leave the courtroom.

The call begins with Mrs Lilburn pleading: "Help me."

Screams were then heard as the operator tried to discover what was happening.

Mrs Lilburn then weakly said hello before yelling: "I'm dead."

She continually gasped and moaned as the operator tried to talk to her.

She is later heard to say: "He's stabbed..." and, "David stop it. I can't breathe."

There was then further moaning from Mrs Lilburn with a "beat" interrupting the groans.

The accused then came on the phone stating his name and asking for the police to come to his home.

The operator asked him to say what had happened, to which he replied: "No, I can't."

Blood stains

The jury was told that when police searched the couple's home after the alleged attack, they found four blood-stained knives near to Mrs Lilburn's body in the main bedroom.

They also discovered a blood-stained cordless telephone.

The court was told Mrs Lilburn had instructed a solicitor regarding a split from her husband prior to her death. Letters from her lawyer to the accused about the separation were also found by the police.

Giving evidence, police officer Sgt Thomas Steel said that when he went to the Lilburn's home after the alleged incident, the accused looked like "someone from the pages of a magazine" dressed in a white dressing gown.

Mr Lilburn was later taken to hospital having sustained a large cut to his hand.

Sgt Steel told the court the accused spoke very little, but asked that his children and Mrs Lilburn's mother be notified, and enquired how his wife was "five or six times".

When asked if he had any concerns about Mr Lilburn's state of mind, he replied: "Absolutely none."

Sgt Steel said that the accused had "no reaction" when he was told his wife had died.

The trial, before Judge Ian Peebles QC, continues.