'Obsessed' woman stabbed to death

Christopher Devine has previous convictions for violence

A man stabbed to death a woman 34 years his senior after she became "obsessed" with him, a court has heard.

Christopher Devine, 22, from Rhyl, Denbighshire, met Sandra Vincent, 56, in a psychiatric unit and allegedly stabbed her to death in October 2006.

She died 48 hours later, but while under sedation had nodded her head when asked if it was Devine who had attacked her, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

Mr Devine denies murder and the case continues.

Simon Medland, prosecuting, said divorcee Ms Vincent had been "strangely, deeply attracted" to Mr Devine, who was younger than her own son.

He said the pair had met while both patients in the Ablett psychiatric unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, near Rhyl, in October 2005.

Mr Medland said Ms Vincent, who was divorced, was attacked on the sofa in Mr Devine's flat in St John Street, Rhyl, over a half-hour period last October and was struck five times with a serrated knife.

One stab wound had penetrated seven-and-three-quarter inches (19.5 cm), the court heard.

Mr Medland added that the defendant had a number of previous convictions for offences involving violence and the use of knives.

The trial was told Ms Vincent had fought back from mild cerebral palsy and from post natal depression.

One of her relatives told the hearing Ms Vincent had been "obsessed" with Devine.

The case is expected to continue on Tuesday.