Murder trial told of bondage find

Harris was giving evidence for a third day

A woman who killed her lover's wife previously threatened her own husband with a knife when he discovered her bondage gear, a trial has been told.

Rebecca Harris, 30, from Morriston, Swansea, who was in a sado-masochistic relationship with Stephen Marsh, has admitted killing Jaspal Marsh, 37.

She claims she had been persuaded to by Mr Marsh, 36, who denies murder.

Harris admitted threatening her husband Ron, 69, but disputed that it was when he found her "whiplash collection".

Gerard Elias QC, defending Mr Marsh, told Swansea Crown Court that Mr Harris had discovered a bag containing a rubber bra, leather bracelets with metal studs, black corsets and thongs and high-heeled shoes.

Harris, who was giving evidence for a third day, admitted they belonged to her but said they were available in many high street stores.

On this night, you took it into your own hands to kill Jaspal Marsh to clear the field Gerard Elias QC, to Harris

Under cross examination, she conceded that she had threatened her husband with a knife.

She claims it was because he was abusive and threatening towards her.

Earlier on Thursday, she told the court she was "in fear of her life" when she carried out the attack on Jaspal Marsh.

Harris claims Mr Marsh was controlling her and had threatened to kill her unless she went through with the murder.

Jaspal Marsh died after she was stabbed 16 times in her bedroom

The jury was told of a series of text messages sent between the lovers before and after Jaspal Marsh's murder in July 2006.

Mr Elias said it was not uncommon for them to send 50 to 60 messages to each other on any given day.

He said Harris' claims that the messages on 29 July sent to her from Mr Marsh, pleading with her to commit the murder, were lies.

He messed my head up totally - he knew how vunerable I was, he just took advantage and used me Rebecca Harris

"At no time did the defendant text you anything that suggested he knew his wife was dead,"he said.

"This was your venture to kill Jaspal Marsh. I don't on his part suggest there had not been jokey conversations of ridding yourselves of your partners.

"It had never gone beyond that, we suggest. On this night, you took it into your own hands to kill Jaspal Marsh to clear the field."

Mr Elias claimed that she then drip-fed Mr Marsh details via text messages of what she was doing or planning to do. Harris denied this and said Mr Marsh had planned the murder.

The jury has been given a schedule of the timings of the messages from phone records, but the content is disputed, as many were deleted.

Drip-fed details

Harris told the court: "Stephen Marsh was the one who was controlling - he was the one that brainwashed me that night.

"He messed my head up totally - he knew how vunerable I was, he just took advantage and used me."

Mr Elias produced the knife, in a transparent container, and asked Harris how she had used it.

She broke down in tears, but when he asked her to hold it, she sobbed: "No, I can't."

He said pictures showed that the knife was left in Mrs Marsh with the blade pointing upwards, towards her head.

"Did you struck the final blow, standing above her head?" asked Mr Elias.

Stephen Marsh denies arranging the killing of his wife

Harris said no, it was while they were struggling on the floor.

Mrs Marsh suffered 16 stab wounds with a kitchen knife at her marital home in Gorseinon.

The court has already been told how Harris and Mr Marsh met while working at a directory inquiries call centre in Swansea.

After starting an affair, Harris claimed she became reluctantly involved in sado-masochistic practices with him.

Then at some point during their affair, she claimed Mr Marsh had "pestered" her to kill his wife.

Harris said she agreed to the plan simply to shut him up but claimed that Mr Marsh then went off to establish an alibi on the night of the murder.

Mr Marsh is alleged to have set the murder scene by ensuring his wife left their home unlocked before going to bed.

Harris claimed he sent her text messages from a city pub, one of which read: "Do it. Just do it."

She described how Mrs Marsh fought furiously to save herself from being attacked with an eight-inch bladed knife.

The trial continues.