Woman accused of stabbing told police: 'I did it'

A woman accused of trying to murder her husband and a child was arrested by detectives after telling them "I did it", a jury has heard.

Prosecutors allege Jacqueline Mounsey, 53, stabbed her husband, Mark Bennett, and the child in the neck, before injuring herself in the Morton area of Carlisle on 10 June.

Carlisle Crown Court heard Mr Bennett later told police "I've woken up on the couch to her stabbing me".

Ms Mounsey denies two counts of attempted murder, as well as two counts of a lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

In a statement read to the court, a police constable called to the Whernside address said: "Mr Bennett believes Jackie has gone crazy since her mother's death."

Mr Bennett also described a previous occasion when he said Ms Mounsey restricted his breathing with a couch cushion.

Ms Mounsey was deemed fit to be interviewed after the alleged attack and three days later she was quizzed in three separate sessions, providing mostly "no comment" responses.

She saw an NHS liaison and diversion staff member and was then transported to temporary accommodation.

Video clips played to the jury showed that journey, and the subsequent chat with two detectives.

In one, Ms Mounsey was offered mental health support.

"I don't need mental health. I just need, like, therapy or something," she replied.

In another clip, she made what the prosecution allege were "significant disclosures".

"What I've got to say is going to get me into trouble," she said. "I want to tell you but I don't want jail."

Ms Mounsey said she "just want[s] to confess now" and get it off her chest to "get spared jail" and "get the help".

"If I'd got the help, none of this would have happened, so I did it."

"I did it," she added. "I didn't get any help."

An officer asked: "Did you just say 'I did it'?"

Ms Mounsey nodded, and said: "I didn't get any help."

Detectives then told her she would be arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

"Was that a bad thing to say?" she asked.

In another video clip, while stood in a garden smoking a cigarette, Ms Mounsey asked: "Will everyone get to know…that I've admitted it?"

As a detective was engaged in radio conversation with a colleague, relating to her being arrested, Ms Mounsey added: "I didn't mean to do it."

The trial, which is in its second week, continues.

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