Trial hears of 'knife fantasy'

Stephen Marsh denies arranging his wife's murder

A husband accused of arranging his wife's murder fantasised about being cut with a knife, a jury has been told.

Jaspal Marsh was stabbed to death at her home in Gorseinon, Swansea, by her husband Stephen's lover Rebecca Harris, 30, who has admitted the killing.

She has claimed she had been persuaded to by Mr Marsh, 37, who denies murder.

Two of his former lovers told Swansea Crown Court how he fantasised about being cut by a lover who would then lick the blood off his body.

Julie Kay Owens told the jury how she had swapped messages with Mr Marsh in an internet chatroom.

She described how she had sex with him, within hours of meeting him at the West End pub in Gorseinon.

She also said how Mr Marsh told her about his fantasy of being injured by a lover who would then lick the blood off his body.

Miss Owens said Mr Marsh did not tell her he was married until later.

She said she had been "gutted" by the news and did not arrange to meet him again.

He later informed her by text message that he had met someone else.

Miss Owens told the court: "I just assumed that she had done, whatever: knife cutting et cetera. He told me she was married."

Sado-masochistic

Miss Owens said on the night of the killing she received a text message from Mr Marsh asking if he could sleep at her house in Gorseinon.

She refused because she had formed a relationship with another man.

Earlier on Monday, the trial heard from another lover, Natalie Yemm, who said she had an eight-month affair with Mr Marsh.

Jaspal Marsh died after being stabbed 16 times in her bedroom

She too told how he revealed to her that he wanted to be cut across the chest to heighten sexual excitement.

"He loved the thought of being cut and the person who was to cut him to lick the blood after," she told the court.

Huw Davies QC, prosecuting, asked Miss Yemm: "Did he want you to do that?"

"Yes he did. I said yes to him but the thought of it really put me off. So I did not do it."

Miss Yemm said she never went through with the idea.

Mrs Marsh died after being stabbed repeatedly by Harris in her bedroom at her marital home in July 2006.

Harris has claimed that after beginning an affair with Mr Marsh, 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 constructed an alibi for 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 then sent her text messages from a city centre pub, one of which read: "Do it. Just do it".

Mr Marsh denies murder and the case continues.